MOGU,  THE  WANDERER 


MOGU    THE   WANDERER 

OR 
THE    DESERT 

A   FANTASTIC    COMEDY    IN    THREE   ACTS 
BY 

PADRAIC   COLUM 


BOSTON 

LITTLE,   BROWN,  AND  COMPANY, 

1917 


Copyright,  1917, 
By  Padraic  Colum. 


All  rights  reserved 
Published,  February,  1917 


For  permission  to  perform  this  play,  apply  to 
The  Paget  Dramatic  Agency,  25  West  45th  Street,  Netu  York  City 


^■H 


UP   AND    ELECTROTVPED   BY    THE    PLIMPTON   PRESS,    NORWOOD,    MASS.,    U.S.A. 
PRINTED   BY   S.    J.    PARKHILL    dc    CO.,    BOSTON,    MASS.,    U.S.A. 


TO 


THE   UNKNOWN  WARRIOR,"  "  THE  GODS  OF 


371644 


MOGU    THE    WANDERER 


CHARACTERS 

The  Crier  of  the  Camp. 

Selim  the  Sentinel. 

The  Four  Ass-tenders. 

MoGU  the  Wanderer. 

Hafiz  the  Hashish-eater. 

Chosroes,  the  King  of  Persia. 

NusEYR,  the  Court  Poet. 

Helenus,  the  Roman  Ambassador. 

Narjis,  Mogu's  Daughter. 

Shedad  and  Shedid,  the  Court  Chamberlains. 

The  Fruit-seller. 

The  Old  Man  of  the  Desert. 

Kassim-Farraj,  the  Historiographer  of  the  Vizier. 

Moon-of-Love   and    Food-of-Hearts,    two   Slave 

Girls. 
The  Little  Flower  Maid. 
Persian  Notables  (3). 
Guards  (2). 
King  Artavades. 
A  Spy. 

Gazeleh,  a  Woman  of  the  King's  Harem. 
IsHAK  and  Shakalik,  the  Nose-cutters  of  the  Court. 

YUNAN    ) 

DuBAN   V  Three  Ethiopian  Captives. 

Zahal    ) 

Menander,  the  Secretary  of  the  Roman  Embassy. 

Prince  Pharanices,  the  King's  Son. 

Queen  Atossa. 

Sparimixes,  the  Attendant  of  the  Birds. 

Zamm,  the  One-eyed  Beggar. 

The  acticm  passes  on  the  fringe  of  a  desert  that  is  the 
frontier  of  the  Roman  and  Persian  Empires, 


MOGU,  THE  WANDERER 

THE  FIRST  ACT 

There  is  a  well  in  Center,  Back  there  are  huge  stones 
that  may  be  from  ruins.  Behind  these  stones  the  desert  itself 
stretches  away. 

It  is  morning.    At  Right,  with  his  bach  to  a  stone,  Selim 
the  Sentinel  is  asleep,  a  spear  beside  him.    The  Crier  of  the 
Camp,  a  huge  rattle  in  his  hand,  bounds  from  back  Left. 
THE  CRIER  OF  THE  CAMP  {swinging  his  rattle  round  on  its 
handle) 
Our   Master   makes   peace   with   the   Romans!     Our 
Master  makes  peace  with  the  Romans!     {He  stands 
before  the  sleeping  sentinel  and  makes  a  louder  noise 
with  his  rattle)     Chosroes,  the  King  of  the  Persians, 
makes  peace  with  the  Romans! 
SELIM  {waking  up) 

I  hear.  Fare  on  with  your  tidings,  O  Crier  of  the  Camp. 
\The  Crier  runs  out  R.,  twirling  his  rattle  and  crying, 
"Our  Master  makes  peace  with  the  Romans!  Chosroes 
makes  peace  with  the  Romans!"  Four  ass-tenders 
come  from  L. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

0  Selim,  is  it  true  what  is  being  cried  through  the  camp 
—  that  our  Master  makes  peace  with  the  Romans? 

SELIM 

1  tell  you  it  is  a  surety. 


,^^:  : ^  .;  y  rrMOGT;?.  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

And  shall  we  return  to  our  own  land,  Selim? 

SELIM 

As  for  that,  ask  the  soothsayers. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

A  man  has  come  into  the  camp  —  a  man  who  can  fore- 
tell events. 

THIRD  ASS-TENDER 

I  know  the  man  you  mean.    He  is  a  pilferer.    He  was 
caught  stealing  in  the  camp. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

Yea.    And  the  marks  of  a  beating  are  upon  his  body. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

Yet  he  has  most  quick  and  searching  eyes. 
\^A  man  has  stolen  round  the  wall  of  the  well.    He  stretches 
out  his  staff  and  draws  melon  peel  that  is  lying  on  the 
ground  towards  him.     He  picks  up  the  melon  peel  and 
begins  to  eat  it.    The  man  is  naked  except  for  a  loin  cloth; 
he  is  tall  and  lean  and  has  a  scanty  beard  and  quick, 
searching  eyes. 
THE  MAN  (coming  forward) 
A  fair  and  friendly  greeting  to  you  all,  O  Brothers  of 
the  Persians. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

It  is  the  soothsayer  with  the  marks  of  the  beating. 

SELIM 

Who  are  you,  O  Man? 

THE  MAN 

I  am  Mogu,  the  Wanderer,  the  possessor  of  the  Book. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

Do  you  not  foretell  events? 

MOGU 

Young  man,  I  read  in  the  Book. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  7 

SELIM 

And  what  is  this  Book? 

MOGU 

It  is  the  Book  of  the  Hidden  Treasures,  my  Lord.  I 
look  at  you,  and  I  see  that  divers  fortunes  overhang 
you  all.  You,  young  man,  have  been  beaten  once,  and, 
I  fear,  will  be  beaten  again,  for  there  is  hatred  to  the 
right  of  you  and  hatred  to  the  left  of  you. 

THIRD  ASS-TENDER 

He  speaks  the  truth. 

MOGU 

While  as  for  you,  many  women  have  refused  you,  but 
in  the  end  they  will  go  to  you  with  alacrity. 

FOURTH  ASS-TENDER 

Is  that  true,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

I  have  said  it.  And  as  for  you,  you  have  lacked  money 
always. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

That  is  indeed  true,  Mogu. 

MOGU 

But  the  Book  says  that  he  who  shall  persistently  follow 
the  smell  of  the  oil  shall  come  to  the  place  where  there 
is  light. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

And  what  of  my  fortune,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

There  is  a  damsel  thinking  of  you,  and  she  is  dark. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

Is  there  no  more  than  that? 

MOGU 

I  will  speak  no  more  of  the  future.  According  to  the 
Book  there  is  one  occasion  on  which  a  man  may  with 


8  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

safety  reveal  the  mysteries.  That  occasion  is  after 
he  has  eaten.  It  is  now  time  for  me  to  eat.  Have  any 
of  you  seen  my  daughter? 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

I  have  seen  her. 

MOGU 

She  has  our  provision.  But  it  does  not  matter.  I  will 
eat  with  you.    Let  us  share  provision. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

There  is  no  provision  with  us,  Mogu. 

MOGU 

A  crust  of  bread  itself  confers  the  obligation  of  bread 
and  salt. 

THIRD  ASS-TENDER 

There  is  none  amongst  us  that  has  a  crust  of  bread. 

MOGU 

This  is  pitiful.  But  before  I  go  from  you  I  shall  show 
you  a  wonder. 

[He  pulls  up  a  little  bag  that  has  been  slung  across  his 
back  and  takes  something  out  of  it.  He  puts  the  object 
on  the  palm  of  his  hand. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

It  is  a  mouse! 

[Mogu  takes  something  else  out  of  the  bag  and  puts  it  on 

his  palm. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

It  is  a  dice-cube! 

MOGU 

Simsim,  my  mouse,  pushes  at  this  cube  and  turns  it 
over.  Now  will  he  turn  it  with  a  high  or  a  low  number 
uppermost?    Watch  Simsim,  my  mouse. 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

He  will  turn  up  a  low  number. 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  9 

MOGU 

And  what  stake  do  you  put  on  that? 

FIRST  ASS-TENDER 

I  put  no  stake. 

MOGU 

This  man  has  no  reliance  on  his  own  judgment.  And 
it  is  such  as  he  that  are  in  charge  of  the  asses  of  the 
camp. 

THIRD  ASS-TENDER 

He  turns  up  a  high  number.    I  stake  a  copper  coin. 

MOGU 

Your  destiny,  if  you  knew  it,  is  worth  more  than  a 
copper  coin.  You  have  the  judgment  of  Aristotle  whom 
Darius  appointed  as  Vizier  to  his  son  Alexander. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

Was  Alexander  then  the  son  of  Darius? 

MOGU 

The  Book  itself  says  that  Darius  wa,s  the  father  of 
Alexander.  But  Simsim  will  push  no  more.  He  has 
turned  up  the  lowest  number.    Give  me  the  coin. 

THIRD  ASS-TENDER  <s 

I  have  no  coin  to  give.        ^ 

MOGU 

What  does  he  say?    Look,  friends,  see  how  the  cube 
has  been  turned!    This  man  brings  disgrace  on  you  all. 
Behold,  he  is  going  away! 
[^The  Third  Ass-tender  goes  towards  L. 

SECOND  ASS-TENDER 

Here,  Mogu,  is  one  for  your  skill  —  Hafiz  the  Hashish- 
eater. 

[Hafiz  enters  from  R.  His  face  is  white,  and  he  wears  a 
torn  robe. 


10  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

My  Master,  do  you  see  the  mouse  and  the  dice-cube? 

HAFIZ 

Verily  I  see  them.  ' 

MOGU 

The  mouse  pushes  the  dice-cube.  Will  he  turn  up  a 
high  or  a  low  number? 

HAFIZ 

A  low  number. 

MOGU 

Good  Master,  you  have  lost.  It  is  a  six.  Recompense 
me  with  a  copper  coin.  (Hafiz  gives  Mogu  a  coin)  You 
are  amongst  those  of  whom  it  is  written,  "They  do  not 
say  *Come  another  day';  they  pay  on  the  stroke." 
Simsim  pushes  the  cube  again. 

FOURTH  ASS-TENDER 

He  will  turn  up  a  high  number. 

MOGU 

Behold,  it  is  as  you  have  said. 

FOURTH  ASS-TENDER 

Give  me  the  coin. 

MOGU 

The  coin? 
THE  ASS-TENDERS  (truculently) 
The  stake  —  give  him  the  stake. 

MOGU 

What  lack  of  mind  is  here!    There  was  no  stake. 
THE  ASS-TENDERS  (threatening  Mogu) 

Give  him  the  coin  —  give  him  the  coin  or  we  beat  you! 

MOGU 

Would  you  touch  one  who  possesses  the  Book  and  who 
is  acquainted  with  the  incantations? 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  11 

THE  ASS-TENDERS 

We  will  put  more  stripes  on  your  back. 
£Mogu  makes  the  mouse  run  up  to  his  shoulder.    Then, 
grasping  his  staff y  he  stands  with  his  back  to  the  wall  of 
the  well.     The  ass-tenders  threaten  him,     Chosroes,  the 
King,  and  Nu^eyr,  the  Court  Poet,  enter  from  R, 

CHOSROES 

There  are  contentions  here,  Nuseyr. 
SELiM  (in  great  alarm) 
The  King!  The  King!  Have  ye  no  manners,  Outcasts! 
The  King! 

£The  ass-tenders  run  off  L.  One  of  them  knocks  the  mouse 
off  Moguls  shoulder.  Hafiz  goes  after  the  ass-tenders, 
Mogu  throws  down  his  staff  and  afterwards  goes  down  on 
his  hands  and  knees  to  search  for  the  mouse  that  has  run 
away,  Chosroes  stands  watching  him.  Chosroes,  with 
his  heard  and  robe,  looks  like  an  Assyrian  king.  Nuseyr, 
the  Court  Poet,  is  a  young  man  elaborately  dressed.  He 
has  on  his  shoulder  a  green  parrot  held  by  a  silver  chain, 

CHOSROES 

What  man  are  you? 
MOGU  {on  his  knees) 

I  am  Mogu,  the  Wanderer,  my  Lord.  I  search  for  the 
mouse  that  was  villainously  flung  from  me. 

CHOSROES 

Have  you  aught  to  say? 

MOGU 

Who  is  there  to  judge  of  the  poor  man?    If  he  states  his 
case  and  proves  himself  wronged,  who  is  there  that  will 
admit  his  plea? 
CHOSROES  {to  Nuseyr) 
This  man  has  discourse. 


12  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

Alas  for  the  poor  man!  How  could  you  know  his  con- 
dition !  In  the  market  place  he  is  mocked  at,  and  in  the 
street  he  is  set  upon  and  beaten.  When  he  is  absent 
he  is  not  remembered  amongst  mankind,  and  when  he 
is  present  he  has  no  share  in  their  pleasures.  He  fails 
to  earn  his  food  in  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  he  is 
without  fire  or  food. 

CH08ROE8 

Excellently  does  he  speak. 

MOGU 

In  the  market  place  the  poor  man  shuns  notice,  and  in 
the  desert  he  pours  forth  his  tears. 

NUSEYR 

He  speaks  excellently.  I  could  listen  to  him  only  for 
the  wind  blows  from  him  to  us. 

CHOSROES 

Yes,  the  wind  blows  from  him  to  us.  Bid  him  go  away. 
[Nuseyr  motions  Mogu  to  go.  He  goes  left  of  well  and  sits 
with  hack  to  it.  There  are  some  more  fruit  peels  on  the 
ground,  and  he  takes  them  up  and  eats  them. 

CHOSROES 

Did  my  poet  observe  that  man? 

NUSEYR 

I  observed  that  he  was  our  old  acquaintance,  the  naked 
man. 

CHOSROES 

He  is  a  lesson  for  those  who  would  be  admonished. 

NUSEYR 

Too  obvious  a  lesson,  my  Lord.  But  my  parrot  has 
never  looked  upon  his  like.  {He  steps  towards  i.,  hold- 
ing up  the  parrot)    Shiraz,  my  beauty,  look  on  Mogu, 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  13 

the  naked  man.  So  we  are  all  born,  Shiraz!  So  we 
all  are  stripped  of  robe  and  crown,  of  court  and  harem! 

CHOSROES 

I  shall  have  that  parrot  strangled,  Nuseyr. 

NUSEYR 

Why,  my  Lord? 

CHOSROES 

So  that  our  Roman  friends  will  not  gossip  of  Persian 

levity. 

[Helenus,  the  Roman  minister,  an  alert  man  with  great 

presence,  enters  from  L.   He  makes  reverence  to  the  King, 

CHOSROES 

We  pray  that  the  peace  between  our  Empires  may  be 
eternal.  The  treaty  is  written  out  in  Persian  and  Roman 
writing,  and  Shedad,  our  chamberlain,  will  hand  it  to 
you  when  we  go  back  to  the  pavilion.  We  will  present 
you  with  a  robe  of  honor,  Helenus. 

NUSEYR 

Let  it  be  on  account  of  his  epic,  my  Lord. 

CHOSROES 

Has  Helenus  written  an  epic? 

HELENUS 

My  epic  is  only  in  part  composed.  As  your  Majesty  is 
aware,  in  a  long  poem  the  subject  is  of  the  first  impor- 
tance. I  have  selected  my  subject  with  the  greatest 
care.  It  is  the  war  with  the  Dacians,  an  action  now 
suflficiently  remote  to  be  a  fit  subject  for  an  epic.  The 
parts  composed  have  been  read  in  various  circles,  and 
the  readings  have  always  been  attended  by  the  best 
people.  It  has  been  noticed  how  I  have  surmounted 
the  diflBculties  of  getting  barbarian  names  into  Greek 
hexameters. 


14  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

CHOSROES 

We  regret  that  the  subject  of  the  wars  between  Rome 
and  Persia  did  not  commend  itself  to  you. 

HELENUS 

There  are  many  fine  episodes  in  these  wars,  but  no  com- 
plete action,  my  Lord. 

CHOSROES 

Nuseyr  will  explain  to  me  what  you  have  said.  Behold 
the  naked  man  again. 

[^Mogu  has  come  from  behind  well  and  is  searching  on  the 
ground  for  his  mouse. 

CHOSROES 

Such  wanderers  have  ways  of  making  diversion.  Does 
he  sing?    Does  he  tell  stories.?    Does  he  dance? 

NUSEYR 

The  King  commands  that  Mogu  dance. 

MOGU 

O  my  Lord,  I  know  only  the  Ostrich  Dance  —  the  dance 
that  amuses  the  camel-drivers. 

NUSEYR 

You  must  dance  it,  Mogu. 

[^Mogu  commences  the  dance  —  an  awkard  shuffling  and 
jumping.  Chosroes,  Nuseyr  and  Helenus  are  about  to 
go  when  Narjis  runs  in  from  L. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father! 

CHOSROES 

Who  is  this  damsel? 

MOGU 

She  is  the  Wanderer's  child,  my  Lord. 

CHOSROES 

Can  she  dance? 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  15 

MOGU 

She  has  been  trained  to  dance  the  Bubble  Dance  and 
the  Dance  of  the  Butterfly  Skipping  the  Stones. 

CHOSROES 

What  do  you  say  of  her,  Nuseyr? 

NUSEYR 

She  is  quick  and  graceful,  like  the  daughters  of  the 
desert. 

CHOSROES 

Do  you  not  commend  her  then? 

NUSEYR 

I  should  like  to  see  her  dressed  in  a  skirt  of  red  inwoven 
with  gold,  and  with  sandals  upon  her  feet.  Her  vest 
should  be  of  pale  blue,  slashed  and  open,  and  embroid- 
ered with  pearls  — 

CHOSROES 

I  had  a  dream  last  night! 

NUSEYR 

Dressed  thus  she  would  make  a  pretty  cup-bearer. 

CHOSROES 

A  cup-bearer  only ! 

NUSEYR 

What  is  your  name,  damsel? 

NARJIS 

Narjis,  my  Lord. 

NUSEYR 

Let  these  coins  be  in  your  hair,  Narjis. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Lord! 

^She  takes  a  string  of  coins  that  Nuseyr  hands  her  and 

fixes  them  in  her  hair. 

CHOSROES 

What  do  you  say  now  of  her,  Nuseyr? 


16  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

NUSEYR 

I  think  she  is  pretty. 

CHOSROES 

No  more  than  pretty? 

NUSEYR 

I  cannot  say  that  she  is  more  than  pretty.  The  King 
would  have  you  dance,  O  Gazelle  of  the  Sand  Hills! 
[_Shedad  and  Shedid,  the  two  chamberlains ,  enter  from  L. 
and  prostrate  themselves.  The  King  is  looking  at  Narjis 
who  stands  before  him.  Mogu  is  at  the  wall  of  the  well. 
Nuseyr  and  Helenus  stand  behind  the  King. 

SHEDAD 

The  falcons,  O  King! 

CHOSROES 

What  does  the  man  say? 

NUSEYR 

What  is  it,  Shedad? 

SHEDAD 

The  falcons  that  were  sent  as  a  present  to  the  King 
have  arrived  at  the  pavilion. 

NUSEYR 

The  falcons!  These  are  the  snowy  falcons  from  the 
Mountain  of  Lebanon.  O  my  Lord,  may  we  not  go  to 
the  pavilion  at  once  to  see  these  birds? 

CHOSROES 

Shall  we  not  see  Narjis  dance? 

NUSEYR 

There  can  be  nothing  wonderful  in  her  dancing,  but 
the  falcons  —  the  snowy  falcons!    Let  us  go,  my  Lord. 

CHOSROES 

How  shall  we  reward  Narjis? 

NUSEYR 

I  have  given  her  a  string  of  coins. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  17 

CHOSROES 

I  have  had  a  dream.  But  let  us  go  back  to  the  pavilion. 
\JJhosroes  turns  to  go.     The  chamberlains  go  before  him. 

HELENUS 

We  could  have  presented  Chosroes  with  falcons  from 
the  Western  Islands. 

NUSEYR 

Ah,  but  snowy  falcons,  and  falcons  from  the  Mountain 
of  Lebanon.    Farewell,  Gazelle  of  the  Sand  Hills! 

NARJIS 

Farewell,  my  Lord. 

[Nuseyr  and  Helenus  go  after  the  King, 

NARJIS 

They  are  gone.    I  remember  the  words  in  the  song: 

I  perceive  it  was  only  a  dream,  the  thought  that  came 

to  me. 
The  thought  that  the  desert  was  passed,  that  we  were 

on  the  couches. 
I  thought  we  had  dainty  food,  that  singing  and  wine 

were  around  us. 
And  I  thought  that  my  lord  had  said  sweet  words  to  his 

slave  girl. 
It  was  only  a  dream,  I  perceive,  and  the  desert  is 

round  us. 

MOGU 

This  is  our  lucky  day.  This  is  the  day  of  my  life.  This 
shall  be  called  Mogu's  day.  Coins  in  a  string  the  jug- 
gler with  the  parrot  bestowed  upon  my  daughter. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father,  will  they  return? 

MOGU 

Let  us  be  far  away  lest  they  should.    Come  on. 


18  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

NARJIS 

The  King  may  remember  me. 

MOGU 

Let  us  hope  that  the  son  of  the  parrot  may  not  remember 
his  coins.  Come  on.  But  give  the  coins  to  me  that  I 
may  place  them  in  obscurity. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father,  the  King  looked  upon  me  when  the  coins 
were  in  my  hair.  He  might  return,  and  not  seeing  the 
coins,  would  not  notice  me  again. 

MOGU 

What  is  this?  Give  the  coins  lest  the  soldiers  see  them. 
(Narjis  puts  her  hands  over  the  coins  in  her  hair)  Let 
us  hasten  from  this,  or  they  will  fall  upon  us  and  beat 
us.  They  would  all  beat  us  —  the  captains,  the  sol- 
diers, the  camp  followers.  And  now  indeed  we  should 
be  careful,  for  our  good  fortune  must  have  awakened 
the  jealousy  of  my  evil  genius.  Come.  (Narjis  takes 
a  step  to  him)  We  will  go  into  a  town  far  from  the 
camp.  We  shall  have  fowl,  fish  and  white  bread. 
(Narjis  stops)  Come.  We  shall  have  wine  and  enter- 
tainment. The  jesters  and  humpbacks  will  perform 
before  us. 

NARJIS 

Oh,  stay.    I  hear  a  call. 

MOGU 

Then  give  me  the  coins. 

[Narjis  breaks  from  Mogu.    The  King  enters  Jram  R, 

CHOSROES 

Narjis ! 

NARJIS 

O  my  Lord! 
[_She  runs  to  him. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  19 

MOGU 

He  who  has  a  daughter  has  distress  and  anxiety  indeed! 
Behold  I  am  once  again  under  the  power  of  fortune. 
IHafiz  the  Hashish-eater  enters  from  L, 

HAFIZ 

Hail,  Brother! 

MOGU 

Greeting,  Hashish-eater.  Cast  no  spells,  have  no  en- 
vious thought,  wish  not  for  the  evil  eye,  for  the  hour  of 
Mogu  approaches. 

HAFIZ 

The  hour  of  my  sobriety  approaches  also. 

MOGU 

Hush.    The  King  comes  with  the  Wanderer's  child. 
[Chosroes  with  Narjis  come  from  R. 

CHOSROES 

Further,  according  to  a  dream,  I  should  escape  a  peril 
by  wedding  you. 

NARJIS 

By  wedding  me,  my  Lord! 

CHOSROES 

Nuseyr,  our  Court  Poet,  professes  not  to  find  you 
beautiful,  and  his  opinion  on  what  is  lovely  is  esteemed 
at  the  Court.  I  have  slipped  away  from  Nuseyr.  I 
find  you  fairer  than  the  daughters  of  kings. 

NARJIS 

I  am  my  Lord's  handmaiden. 

CHOSROES 

I  would  wed  you  as  I  should  wed  the  daughter  of  a  king. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Lord! 

[_They  go  slowly  back  R.     They  stop. 


20  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

0  my  protecting  Genius,  thou  hast  brought  me  to  a 
fortunate  hour!  He  takes  her  as  he  would  take  the 
daughter  of  a  King!  He  weds  with  Mogu's  issue;  he 
makes  Mogu  the  parent  of  a  Hue  of  Kings.  Stand  up 
and  be  haughty,  Mogu!  Be  fierce,  Mogu!  Tremble 
and  be  abashed,  my  enemies!  Dogs,  lick  the  dust 
before  Mogu's  feet! 

HAFIZ 

What  does  your  hashish  say  to  you,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

1  am  making  an  alliance  with  the  King. 

HAFIZ 

Are  you  lending  him  armies? 

MOGU 

I  am  giving  my  daughter  in  marriage  to  the  King. 

HAFIZ 

Are  you  giving  a  dowry  with  your  daughter? 

MOGU 

No.     But  I  am  getting  a  bride-price  for  my  daughter. 

HAFIZ 

And  what  bride-price  will  you  get,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

O  stupefied  one,  what  bride-price  would  a  King  give? 

HAFIZ 

He  will  make  you  a  lord  of  the  empire. 

MOGU 

He  will  make  me  the  greatest  of  the  lords  of  the  empire. 
Media  will  be  under  me  for  a  year  and  Bactriana  for 
the  year  after;  Damascus  I  shall  give  away,  and 
Yemen  shall  be  my  place  of  pleasure. 

HAFIZ 

O  Mogu,  my  Lord,  a  boon! 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  21 

MOGU 

What  boon  would  you  crave? 

HAFIZ 

Give  me  the  women  of  Yemen  to  be  my  slave  women. 

MOGU 

I  have  nought  to  do  with  you,  Hashish-eater. 

HAFIZ 

Then  Shedad  and  Shedid  are  more  generous  than  you. 

MOGU 

You  speak  of  the  chamberlains  whom  I  hate.  Have 
they  daughters? 

HAFIZ 

Shedad  has  a  daughter,  and  she  is  wonderful.  There 
is  none  like  her  in  the  Garden  of  Eternity. 

MOGU 

I  have  never  seen  the  daughters  of  the  rich. 

HAFIZ 

She  is  like  the  moon  on  the  night  of  its  fullness.  She 
will  be  displayed  before  you  robed  in  silks  of  China. 
Lo,  her  nurses  bring  her  in.  Her  eyes  are  bordered  with 
kohl,  and  her  nails  are  stained  with  henna.  Lo,  they 
withdraw  the  veils  and  the  outer  garments.  Her  hair 
falls  out  of  its  tower.  Behold  the  shower  of  pearls,  and 
see  there  are  jewels  along  her  breast! 

MOGU 

By  my  protecting  genius,  I  shall  marry  this  damsel. 

HAFIZ 

Will  you  not  look  upon  her? 

MOGU 

I  will  wed  her,  I  tell  you,  but  afterwards  I  will  manifest 
no  love  towards  her  on  account  of  the  enmity  I  bear  to 
her  father  and  her  uncle. 


22  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

HAFIZ 

Alas  for  the  bride,  the  poor  bride; 

MOGU 

Mogu  will  be  haughty  to  his  enemies.  He  will  take 
their  daughters  for  a  time,  but  themselves  he  will  have 
beaten  with  sticks. 

HAFIZ 

Lo,  the  King  goes  with  the  bride. 

[Cliosroes  and  Narjis  move  away  R.    Mogu  throws  down 

his  staff  and  runs  after  them. 

MOGU 

My  Lord,  my  Lord!  Mogu  calls,  my  Lord.  Mogu 
the  bride's  father.  The  bride's  father  entreats  a 
word,  even  a  gift,  my  Lord. 

\jChosroes  and  Narjis  go  off  without  giving  any  attention 
to  Mogu.    Mogu  stands  looking  after  them. 

HAFIZ 

Mogu  —  Mogu  —  Mogu. 

[_Mogu  comes  back  and  picks  up  his  staff, 

MOGU 

Begone,  Slave. 

HAFIZ 

Art  thou  not  a  lord  of  the  empire  and  friendly  to  me? 

MOGU 

My  daughter  is  to  wed  the  King  —  is  it  not  so? 

HAFIZ 

You  have  given  your  daughter  in  marriage  to  the  King. 

MOGU 

Then  I  shall  stay  here  until  the  King  sends  for  me. 
\\The  four  ass-tenders  come  from  L.  and  seat  themselves 
upon  stones  hack  left.     The  Crier  of  the  Camp  comes  on 
from  R.  holding  his  rattle.    Eafiz  goes  off  L.  and  Mogu 
stands  at  C.  his  staff  in  his  hands  in  a  dignified  attitude. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  23 

THE  CRIER  {hoarsely,  shaking  his  rattle  feebly) 
The  King  —  has  made  peace  —  with  the  Romans. 
\_Shedid  comes  from  R. 

MOGU 

Have  you  a  message  for  me,  Shedid? 

SHEDID 

A  message  for  you,  Vagabond? 

MOGU 

Does  the  King  send  me  a  message? 

SHEDID 

The  King!  —  is  it  to  such  a  one  as  thou? 

MOGU 

Know,  O  Shedid,  that  Chosroes  has  wed  my  daughter. 

SHEDID 

Verily  truth  has  departed  from  amongst  men! 
{The  ass-tenders  and  the  Crier  of  the  Camp  laugh. 

MOGU 

Chosroes  has  wed  Narjis,  my  daughter,  as  he  would 

wed  the  daughter  of  a  king. 

{The  asS'tenders  and  the  Crier  of  the  Camp  are  highly 

diverted. 

SHEDID 

What  will  be  done  with  this  man?    His  forehead  is  of 
brass,  or  else  it  is  of  rock,  and  cut  from  the  threshold 
of  the  synagogue  of  the  Jews!    He  is  not  ashamed  of 
anything  he  says  to  the  servants  of  the  King. 
{Shedad  enters  from  R. 

MOGU 

It  is  you  who  have  the  message  for  me,  Shedad. 

SHEDAD 

I  do  not  bear  messages  to  such  as  you. 

MOGU 

You  have  gifts  for  me,  Shedad. 


U  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

SHEDAD 

I  have  no  gifts  for  you. 

MOGU 

You  have  said  this  by  way  of  discussion,  but  you  have 
come  to  bid  me  to  the  pavilion  of  the  King. 

SHEDID 

This  man  becomes  wearisome. 

MOGU 

You  have  the  coins  for  me  at  least. 

SHEDAD 

I  have  no  coins  for  you. 

MOGU 

Speak  truth,  Shedad. 

SHEDAD 

Does  this  man  challenge  us? 

MOGU 

Give  me  the  coins  and  I  will  stay  here. 

SHEDAD 

I  have  no  coins. 

MOGU 

You  have  my  daughter's  string  of  coins,  I  tell  you. 
Give  them  to  me. 

SHEDAD 

What  shall  we  do  with  this  man,  Brother? 

MOGU 

You  have  stolen  the  coins. 

SHEDID 

I  shall  have  him  punished. 

MOGU 

Give  me  the  coins,  ye  robbers. 

SHEDID 

O  Ass-tenders!    Seize  this  man,  beat  him  soundly  and 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  25 

place  him  in  the  crosspieces.     Now  let  us  leave  this 
place.  Brother. 

\_Shedid  and  Shedad  go  off  L.     The  ass-tenders  gather 
round  Mogu. 

MOGU  {gripping  his  staff) 

Beware  of  touching  me,  Jackals. 

\lThe  ass-tenders  gather  round  Mogu,  mocking  him. 

THE  CRIER  (as  if  making  a  portentous  announcement) 
The  King  has  taken  Mogu's  daughter! 

THE   ASS-TENDERS 

La,  la,  la,  la. 
THE  CRIER  {twisting  his  rattle) 

The  King  has  married  Mogu's  daughter. 

THE  ASS-TENDERS 

La,  la,  la,  la. 

THE   CRIER 

The  King  has  married  Mogu*s  daughter  as  he  would 
wed  the  daughters  of  kings. 

THE  ASS-TENDERS 

La,  la,  la,  la. 

MOGU 

Listen  to  what  I  will  say  to  you.  You  are  dogs,  your 
fathers  were  dogs,  and  dogs  also  were  your  grand- 
fathers. You  are  the  lice  of  the  camp  and  with  my 
staff  only  will  I  touch  you. 
THE  CRIER  {mounting  the  stones  hack) 
All  ye  who  would  see  a  vagabond  beaten  come  here, 
come  here,  come  here. 

XThe  ass-tenders  crowd  round  Mogu.  He  strikes  at 
them.  One  throws  sand  in  his  eyes.  They  throw  him 
down.     They  put  him  in  the  crosspieces. 


26  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [acti 

THE   CRIER 

May  all  the  hungry  bellies  that  come  into  our  camp 

meet  the  fate  of  Mogu,  the  Vagabond. 

[_The  normal  life  of  the  camp  goes  on.     People  come  to 

the  well.     A  fruit-seller  comes.     Fruit  is  taken  by  those 

at  the  well.    People  at  well  go  away.     Selim  and  the 

fruit-seller  play  at  draughts.   Mogu  is  in  the  crosspieces 

L.  C.     He  is  standing  upright,  hut  his  arms   are  held 

between  two  cross  timbers  and  his  neck  is  bent  under  a 

board. 

Haflz  the  Hashish-eater  enters  from  L. 

HAFIZ 

How  strange  is  the  scene  on  which  my  soul  gazes ! 
SELIM  {mockingly) 

O  Fruit-seller,  how  strange  is  the  well  and  the  camel 
track! 

HAFIZ 

The  powers   of   Alexander  were   gathered   here,    and 
below  the  rubbish  heaps  are  the  remains  of  Babylon. 
SELIM  {with  interest) 

When  were  the  armies  of  Alexander  gathered  round 
this  place? 

HAFIZ 

A  thousand  years  after  the  revel  of  Sardanapalus. 
[The  Fruit-seller  runs  to  Hafiz,  holding  his  basket  on  his 
head. 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

Speak  to  me  concerning  Sardanapalus. 

HAFIZ 

Below  one  of  the  rubbish  heaps  is  a  painted  chamber, 
and  there  Sardanapalus  reveled  on  a  night.  A  slave 
called  me  out  of  sleep  and  caught  me  by  the  hand, 
and  we  went  down  long  stairs.     I  heard  the  voices  of 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  £7 

the  singing  women.     I  knew  the  King  was  dead,  and 
that   those   within   would   make   me   king   after   Sar- 
danapalus.     But  the  door  would  not  open. 
[^The  Fruit-seller  looks  round  at  Selim. 

SELIM 

Speak  to  me  concerning  Alexander. 

HAFIZ 

I  sat  by  Alexander's  couch  and  told  him  about  India, 
for  I  had  journeyed  down  all  her  rivers.  I  slept  out- 
side his  tent,  and  a  captain  called  to  me.  The  blue 
lotos  was  in  my  hand,  and  I  went  to  show  Alexander 
the  veins  that  led  into  the  heart  of  the  world.  Then  a 
star  fell.  I  heard  them  say  that  Alexander  had  gone 
hence. 

SELIM 

He  is  a  hashish-eater.     I  knew  such  a  one  in  Ispahan. 

THE    FRUIT-SELLER 

There  is  no  profit  in  listening  to  the  dreams  of  a  hashish- 
eater. 

HAFIZ 

I  will  speak  no  more  concerning  Sardanapalus  nor 
Alexander. 

[He  goes  off  R.  Selim  sits  on  a  low  stone  R.,  eating 
dates  and  throwing  the  stones  before  him.  The  Fruit- 
seller  dusts  the  fruit  in  his  basket,  Mogu  begins  to 
utter  deep  groans. 

SELEVf 

Were  I  back  in  Ispahan  I  would  be  well  off.  My 
father  is  a  merchant  and  chief  amongst  the  merchants 
of  the  city.  He  has  many  bales  in  his  shop,  and  I 
think  the  price  of  each  is  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 
My  father  would  be  glad  to  see  my  countenance.  He 
would  give  me  bales  to  trade  with. 


28  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

There  is  great  wealth  in  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 

SELIM 

And  when  I  had  returned  from  trading  with  the  bales 
he  had  given  me,  my  father  would  take  me  to  the 
house  of  my  uncle  who  is  also  a  merchant  and  wealthy 
and  ask  his  brother's  daughter  in  marriage  for  me. 
Verily  we  would  not  leave  the  shop  until  my  uncle's 
daughter  was  given  to  me. 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

And  a  share  of  your  uncle's  wealth  should  go  with  the 
damsel. 

SELIM 

That  would  be  but  proper.  Then  I  would  be  a  great 
merchant  myself  and  would  have  many  slaves  and 
much  ease.     Would  that  I  were  back  in  Ispahan. 

MOGU 

O  Ispahan! 

SELIM 

Art  thou  acquainted  with  the  Beautiful  City,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

Behold  these  feet!  Were  I  to  deny  their  acquaintance 
with  the  streets  of  Ispahan,  the  nails  would  drop  off 
the  toes.  O  Ispahan!  O  City  where  she  who  is  re- 
membered lived  and  died! 

SELIM 

You  refer  to  Sheereen  the  Beautiful? 

MOGU 

To  Sheereen  and  to  none  other. 

SELIM 

Then  the  stories  told  in  the  streets  of  Ispahan  are 
familiar  to  you? 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  29 

MOGU 

Master,  they  are  my  particularly  familiar  tales. 

SELIM 

O  Fruit-seller,  bring  your  basket  to  me,  and  as  I  eat 

more  dates  I  may  question  Mogu  about  the  stories  of 

Ispahan. 

{The  Fruit-seller  brings  over  the  basket  to  Selim, 

SELIM 

And  so  they  are  familiar  to  you,  Mogu  —  the  stories  of 
Ispahan? 

MOGU 

It  would  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  bury  my  neck  in 
the  collar  of  reflection  to  recall  the  stories  of  Ispahan. 
No,  indeed.  But  that  which  presses  my  neck  is  not  of 
reflection,  but  of  torment.  I  pray  you,  loosen  it. 
Master.  (He  twists  his  neck  around)  Now  that  I  look 
upon  you,  I  perceive  that  you  are  from  Ispahan  indeed. 
Your  bearing  is  comely  and  noble  and  like  that  of  the 
youths  of  Ispahan. 

£Selim  goes  over  and  opens  the  board  around  Moguls 
neck.    Mogu  lifts  his  head  and  breathes  deeply. 

MOGU 

O  ravenous  belly,  cease  to  prey  upon  me,  so  that  I  may 
remember  the  choicest  of  the  stories  and  relate  them 
to  this  friendly  noble. 

SELIM 

O  Fruit-seller,  give  Mogu  to  eat,  and  I  will  recompense 

you. 

\^The  Fruit-seller  goes  to  Mogu. 

MOGU 

The  hand  is  the  servant  of  the  mouth.  Master. 
[^Selim    releases    Moguls    right    hand.    He    takes    dates 


30  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

Jrcmi  the  Fruit-seller  and  eats.  The  ass-tenders  have 
come  on  from  R.  and  they  stand  behind  Selim. 

SELIM 

Mogu  is  about  to  relate  to  us  the  story  of  Sheereen  the 
Beautiful. 

MOGU 

There  are  three  preventatives  to  the  telling  of  that 
story :  it  must  not  be  related  before  women,  nor  before 
black  slaves,  nor  in  the  presence  of  those  who  pay  not 
their  debts. 

SELIM 

O  Mogu,  are  there  such  here? 

MOGU 

Behind  you  are  those  who  have  not  paid  their  debts. 

FIRST   ASS-TENDER 

He  knows  nought  of  the  story. 

SELIM 

0  Mogu,  are  you  an  imposter  in  this  also? 

MOGU 

Not  so.     But  those  who  are  behind  you  would  use  what 

1  say  in  the  story  against  me. 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

I  know  one  of  the  familiar  stories  of  Ispahan.  It  is  the 
story  of  the  Slave  and  the  Sultan.  Do  you  know  that 
story,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

The  story  of  the  Slave  and  the  Sultan  —  I  know  it. 
It  is  a  story  worthy  to  be  engraved  on  plates  of  gold 
and  kept  in  the  treasure  house  of  a  king.  There  was 
a  King  of  Yemen  so  anxious  to  possess  the  story  of  the 
Slave  and  the  Sultan  that  he  sent  messengers  into  the 
cities  of  China  to  converse  with  travelers  of  the  world, 
so  that  the  messengers  might,   perchance,   meet  one 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  31 

who  carried  in  his  mind  the  story  of  the  Slave  and  the 
Sultan. 

SELIM 

Yes,  Mogu.    But  what  of  the  story? 

THE   ASS-TENDERS 

What  of  the  story? 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

0  Mogu,  what  of  the  story  of  the  Slave  and  the  Sultan? 

MOGU 

To  proceed.  There  was  once  a  Sultan,  and  he  had  in 
his  house  a  favorite  slave. 

SELIM 

Nay,  Mogu.  There  was  once  a  Sultan,  and  he  had  in 
his  house  one  who  was  the  most  despicable  of  slaves. 

THE   FRUIT-SELLER 

So  it  is.     That  is  how  the  story  begins. 

MOGU 

1  will  let  my  master  relate  the  story  in  the  way  that  is 
most  pleasing  to  himself. 

SELIM 

Hear  me,  my  Friends,  and  give  heed  to  the  story  of  the 
Slave  and  the  Sultan.  There  was  once  a  sultan  and  he 
had  in  his  palace  one  who  was  the  most  despicable  of 
slaves.  Now  it  came  to  the  ear  of  the  sultan  that  this 
slave  dreamt  he  sat  in  his  master's  seat.  So,  to  divert 
himself,  the  sultan  caused  a  drug  to  be  placed  in  the 
slave's  food,  and  while  he  slept,  they  arrayed  him  in 
the  robes  of  the  sultan  and  put  him  on  the  master's 
seat.  {The  audience  approves  of  the  tale.  While  they  are 
applauding,  Shedad  and  Shedid  enter  L.  They  have 
Nuseyr  with  them,  and  they  point  out  Mogu  to  Nuseyr) 
So  when  this  most  despicable  of  slaves  awakened  on 
the  world,  he  was  saluted  as  Sultan.    And  one  courtier 


32  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

would  make  obeisance  to  him  and  say,  "The  slave  girl 
my  Lord  directed  to  be  brought  hath  arrived,  and  the 
broker  swears  that  the  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  do 
not  suffice  to  pay  for  the  dress  and  the  ornaments  she 
has  on."  {The  audience  laugh  heartily.  Selim  pauses 
to  laugh)  And  another  courtier  would  say,  "Presents 
from  the  King  of  India  have  arrived!  Will  my  Lord 
deign  to  cast  an  eye  upon  them?"  (Selim  laughs 
immoderately.  The  audience,  carried  away,  laugh)  At 
last  this  most  despicable  of  slaves  was  persuaded  that 
he  was  Sultan,  and  he  gave  orders,  and  for  a  time 
these  orders  were  carried  out.  But  the  courtiers  at 
last  grew  weary  of  this  diversion,  and  one  said,  *'0 
thou  unlucky,"  and  plucked  the  beard  of  the  slave. 
Then  they  fell  upon  him  and  tormented  him,  and  at 
last  they  yoked  him  to  the  mill  as  a  bull,  and  forced 
him  to  grind  corn  for  a  night  and  a  day.  (Selim  and 
the  audience  laugh  again)  O  Mogu,  now  you  know 
the  story  of  the  Slave  and  the  Sultan. 

MOGU 

Yea,  verily.  (Selim  and  the  story-telling  group  now  see 
Shedad  and  the  others.  Shedad  motions  to  Selim.  He 
goes  to  the  chamberlains  and  Nuseyr,  who  speak  to  him. 
Selim  motions  to  the  camp  followers  to  go  away.  He 
unloosens  Moguls  other  hand  and  then  goes  off.  Mogu 
gets  away  from  the  crosspieces  and  stands  C,  rubbing 
his  legs.  Shedad  and  Shedid  go  to  him.  They  make 
reverence)  Why  do  you  stand  before  me,  Oppressors  of 
the  Poor? 

SHEDID 

We  bring  you  tidings  of  your  elevation,  O  Vizier. 
Your  Lordship  has  been  given  the  place  of  Perozes,  the 
Vizier. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  33 

SHED AD 

We  come  to  bid  you  to  the  banquet  of  the  King. 

MOGU 

Your  beards  are  gray,  and  yet  you  are  prolific  in  deceit. 
The   desert  will   deliver  me  from  your   hands. 
\JSe  goes  L. 
NUSEYR  (coming  to  him) 

Speak  to  us,  Lord  Mogu,  and  tell  us  why  you  would  go 
hence. 

MOGU 

Because  they  would  pretend  that  Mogu,  the  vagabond, 
was  Vizier  and  amongst  the  noble,  and  because,  when 
they  had  grown  weary  of  that  diversion,  they  would 
have  him  beaten  and  tormented.  I  know  you  all 
take  pleasure  in  mocking  the  outcast,  but  had  I  not 
listened  to  the  stories  I  should  most  assuredly  have 
been  taken  in  the  net.  O  my  Lord  Nuseyr,  do  not  be 
amongst  the  mockers!  Have  pity  upon  the  poor  man! 
You  know  not  his  condition,  as  I  said.  I  go  back 
to  the  desert  without  crust,  without  coin,  without 
daughter.  The  sun  has  burnt  the  flesh  off  my  neck 
and  even  now  it  is  on  the  stripes  of  my  beating.  My 
stomach  devours  itself  for  lack  of  food. 

NUSEYR 

What  would  you  have  of  me,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

Some  fruit  for  my  journey.  Lord. 

^Nuseyr  calls  to  the  Fruit-seller.    He  comes  from  R. 

NUSEYR 

Leave  your  basket  before  Mogu,  and  for  what  he 
takes  I  will  recompense  you. 

l^The  Fruit-seller  puts  basket  down  and  goes  of  R.  Mogu 
takes  fruit  out  of  basket^  and  bites  into  one. 


34  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

Verily,  this  is  an  astonishing  thing! 

NUSEYR 

What  is  it,  Lord  Mogu? 

MOGU 

It  is  an  event  to  astonish  the  mind. 

[He  holds  something.     Shedad  looks  into  his  hand, 

SHEDAD 

There  were  two  stones  in  the  Vizier's  fruit. 

SHEDID 

One  of  them  is  small  and  wrinkled  as  if  dried  in  the 
desert,  and  the  other  is  large  and  purple  like  a  grape. 

MOGU 

I  am  astonished  at  the  event  of  the  fruit/ 

NUSEYR 

May  it  not  be  that  these  stones  are  an  omen,  and  that 
they  signify  the  two  parts  of  the  Vizier's  life  —  the  one 
contracted  and  discolored,  the  other  full  and  richly 
hued.f^  (Shedad  and  Shedid  make  assenting  gestures) 
Drink  to  the  omen.  Lord  Mogu.  Wine  for  the  Vizier, 
Chamberlains. 

[Shedad  and  Shedid  hurry  to  L.  and  come  hack  with  a  great 
cup  filled  with  wine. 

MOGU 

I  am  astonished  at  the  event  of  the  fruit.  Have  you 
ever  heard  of  a  happening  more  extraordinary? 

NUSEYR 

Drink  to  the  happening.  This  is  the  King's  wine  — 
wine  of  Cyprus.  This  is  the  Beauty  amongst  Ten 
Thousand  and  the  Virgin  long  kept  at  Home. 

MOGU 

O  my  Lord,  I  have  heard  that  the  Bang's  wine  is  some- 
times drugged. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  35 

NUSEYR 

Permit  me  first  to  drink  from  your  cup.  (Nuseyr  drinks) 
Now,  my  Lord  Mogu,  consider  this.  K  this  wine 
has  been  drugged  and  if  you  drink  of  it  and  become 
insensible,  you  cannot  be  deceived  on  your  awakening, 
for  you  are  aware  of  the  game  already. 

MOGU 

It  is  true  what  you  say,  my  Lord.  I  cannot  be  deceived 
since  I  am  aware  of  the  game  already.  {He  drinks)  I 
had  heard  of  the  wine  of  Cyprus.  It  is  good  wine, 
my  Lord  —  this  wine  of  Cyprus.  Do  not  think  I  am 
without  manners.  I  know  how  to  behave  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  noble.  I  drink  to  you,  my  Lord. 
[Mogu  drinks  again, 

SHEDAD 

The  King  expects  that  the  Vizier  will  keep  the  cup  he 
has  sent  him. 

MOGU  {in  dismay) 

Now  I  see  again  your  design  against  me.  You  would 
have  me  taken  with  the  King's  cup  in  my  possession! 
You  would  bring  me  into  torment  with  this  cup.  {He 
leaves  the  cup  on  the  ground  and  retreats  from  it)  I  will 
go  from  this  place  where  the  poor  man  is  tricked  into 
giving  himself  up  to  torment. 

\_A  light  litter  is  brought  in  from  L,  It  is  opened^  and 
Narjis,  veiled,  steps  out. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father,  how  wretched  you  seem. 

MOGU 

It  is  my  daughter's  voice. 

[^She  lifts  her  veil  and  goes  towards  him. 


30 MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

My  daughter!  But  you  consort  with  those  whose 
diversion  it  is  to  torment  the  outcast. 

NARJIS 

Good  fortune  has  turned  your  brain,  my  Father. 

MOGU 

Do  not  speak  of  good  fortune.  Evil  are  the  things 
that  are  projected  against  me.  But  I  am  wary,  my 
Daughter. 

NARJIS 

I  recalled  you  to  the  King,  and  he  has  bestowed  upon 
you  the  place  of  Perozes,  his  Vizier.  Is  this  an  evil 
thing? 

MOGU 

I  have  heard  the  tales.  The  oppressors  of  the  poor 
cannot  impose  upon  me. 

NARJIS 

Do  you  not  believe  that  the  King  has  found  delight 
in  me? 

MOGU 

It  may  be  so,  my  Daughter. 

NARJIS 

He  has  bestowed  upon  me  dresses  and  slaves,  jewels 
and  ornaments. 

MOGU 

If  the  King  has  been  good  to  you,  bestow  something 
on  me,  your  father.  Give  me  back  the  string  of  coins 
that  you  took  with  you. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father,  I  have  bestowed  these  on  one  of  my 
slave  girls. 

MOGU 

Have  I  not  said  it?    You  take  the  bread  from  the 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  37 

children's  hands  and  give  it  to  the  dogs.  (Narjis  goes 
to  a  girl  who  stands  by  the  litter.  The  girl  takes  a  string 
from  her  neck  and  gives  it  to  Moguls  daughter)  How 
easily  these  things  come  and  go!  (Narjis  gives  the 
coins  to  MogUy  who  speaks  fawningly)  How  munificent 
is  the  Court!  How  lavish  the  King!  How  fortunate 
is  my  child!  If  the  King  would  provide  me  with  a 
maintenance,  I  would  accept  it,  my  Daughter! 

NARJIS 

The  King  has  given  you  the  highest  place  of  all.  He 
will  receive  you  to-night,  my  Father,  and  the  chamber- 
lains will  prepare  you  for  the  visit.  And  now  I  go,  for 
the  King  awaits  me  at  the  pavihon. 
l^She  gets  into  the  litter  and  is  carried  off  iJ.,  the  slave 
girl  walking  beside  the  litter. 

NUSEYR 

Chamberlains,  it  is  for  you  to  see  that  the  Vizier  is 
-fitly  robed  and  properly  conducted  to  the  Pavihon  of 
the  Baths. 
[Nuseyr  goes  off  i?.,  following  the  litter. 

MOGU 

It  may  be  that  those  who  five  in  courts,  who  eat  much 
food  and  drink  much  wine,  become  intoxicated  in  their 
reason  and  lose  the  support  of  their  understanding. 
It  may  be  that  what  the  poet  and  my  daughter  have 
spoken  of  has  actually  come  to  pass.  It  may  be  that 
I  have  attained  to  a  degree  of  eminence.  {The  chamber- 
lains bow  before  Mogu)  Bring  me  the  wine  cup.  {She- 
dad  brings  the  wine  cup.  Mogu  drinks)  Shedad  and 
Shedid!  You  are  like  the  beaten  ones  of  the  cities  — 
one  of  you  looks  like  a  starveling  porter  and  the  other 
like  a  dustman.  You  would  look  different  if  you  were 
drunk  with  wine  of  Cyprus.    I  drink  in  consideration 


38  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [acti 

of  your  daughter,  Shedad.  {He  drinks  again)  You 
have  sandals,  Shedad.  Strip  them  off  and  let  Shedid 
put  them  upon  my  feet. 

^Shedad  takes  off  his  sandals.     Shedid  kneels  down  and 
'puts   them  on   Moguls  feet.     Mogu  unwinds    Shedid's 
turban  and  puts  it  upon  his  own  head. 

SHEDID 

The  jewels  on  the  turban  are  small,  but  they  may 
make  the  gift  more  acceptable  to  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

What  else  will  ye  give? 

SHEDID 

We  will  give  you  all  your  Lordship  looks  upon. 

MOGU 

Would  you  give  me  your  hves? 

SHEDID 

Under  Chosroes  we  have  no  lord  but  Mogu. 

MOGU 

Would  you  give  me  your  wives? 

SHEDAD 

Your  Lordship  would  not  make  such  a  claim. 

MOGU 

I  know  not.  I  have  the  insolence  of  a  crocodile.  But 
where  are  the  other  parts  of  the  Vizier's  dress? 

SHEDID 

Kassim-Farraj  has  charge  of  your  wardrobe,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

Go  to  this  Kassim-Farraj  and  bid  him  appear  before 
me  with  the  robes  of  the  Vizier. 

SHEDID 

I  hear  and  I  obey. 
[^Shedid  goes  R. 


ACT  i]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  39 

MOGU 

And  you,  Shedad,  go  instantly  and  bid  them  bring  the 
Vizier's  Htter  here.  (As  Shedad  goes  R.y  Mogu  flings 
the  wine  cup  after  him)  Leave  the  wine  cup  with  the 
treasure  of  the  Vizier,  O  my  Servants. 

SHEDAD 

We  will  leave  it  with  the  rest  of  your  treasures.  Master. 
[_Shedad  and  Shedid  go  off  R. 

MOGU 

Master,  they  say  to  me!  How  well  they  know  when 
the  mastery  is  in  me!  Yesterday  I  would  have  called 
either  of  them  Master.  I  called  many  men  Master  — 
even  such  as  ate  stinking  meats  and  slept  in  filthy 
places  on  the  ground.  "Master,  I  faint  in  the  long 
days  because  the  bread  you  give  is  not  enough." 
"What,  are  there  no  roots  in  the  earth?"  "Master,  I 
perish  because  the  wind  has  stripped  away  my  rags." 
"  What,  are  there  no  travelers  to  be  robbed.?  "  "  Master, 
I  would  see  my  wife."  "What,  must  I  support  your 
progeny  also.?"  Those  eaters  of  stinking  meats  and 
liers  in  unclean  places!  I  would  they  could  see  me 
now  with  the  great  men  of  the  Persians  paying  homage 
to  me!  Ha,  they  shall  waken  up  one  day  and  find  the 
wolf  with  a  nose  buried  in  their  necks.  Yesterday  my 
feet  were  bruised  and  my  belly  was  empty  and  the 
stripes  on  my  back  were  sore.  And  to-day  I  am  what 
I  am. 
"Master,"  says  Shedad,  the  Chamberlain  of  the  King. 
Chosroes  is  my  friend.  Who  is  Chosroes?  A  beggar 
woman  fled  with  two  robbers.  Each  of  them  possessed 
her  and  from  this  famous  conjunction  proceeded  the 
race  that  first  headed  it  over  a  band  of  robbers  and 
afterwards  kinged  it  over  Persia.     It  is  possible  that 


40  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

Chosroes  is  sprung  from  Mogu's  fore-great-grandam. 
Lo,  the  vulture  in  the  sky !  Thou  art  the  sign  of  Mogu, 
O  earth-watching,  high-flying  Fowl  of  the  Desert.  O 
Fowl,  thou  art  in  Mogu's  heart.  O  Vulture,  thou  shalt 
tear  strips  from  the  backs  of  the  necks  of  the  great 
men  of  the  world! 

[He  is  standing  vnth  his  back  to  the  back  of  the  scene, 
holding  out  his  hands  towards  the  flying  vulture.  An 
old  man  appears  at  back.  His  figure  is  wasted  and  his 
beard  overgrown.  He  appears  as  coming  up.  steps  at 
back. 

THE   OLD   MAN 

0  Thou  who  hast  prospered! 

MOGU 

What  would  you  with  Mogu,  Old  Man? 

THE   OLD  MAN 

The  Old  Man  of  the  Desert  would  show  Mogu  his 
destiny. 

MOGU 

1  will  go  with  you.  Old  Man. 

THE  OLD  MAN 

Nay !    The  destined  one  is  without  possessions. 

MOGU 

I  am  without  possessions. 

THE   OLD   MAN 

There  are  gold  coins  in  your  hand  and  there  are  little 
jewels  on  your  turban. 

MOGU 

The  coins  are  a  womanly  ornament  merely  —  a  gift 

from  my  daughter. 

\^The  Old  Man  of  the  Desert  goes  down  a  step. 

THE  OLD   MAN 

I  seek  him  who  is  without  possessions. 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  41 

MOGU 

I  know  thee,  Old  Man.     Why  did  you  not  call  to  me 
an  hour  ago? 

THE   OLD   MAN 

The  calculation  was  not  then  complete. 

MOGU 

Would  you  cheat  me  out  of  my  gold  and  jewels? 

THE   OLD   MAN 

0  Man,  would  you  cheat  your  destiny? 

MOGU 

1  will  bury  my  gold  and  follow  you. 

^The  Old  Man  of  the  Desert  goes  down  another  step, 

THE   OLD   MAN 

Where  is  he  who  is  without  possessions? 

MOGU 

I  will  cast  my  gold  aside  and  Usten  to  you. 

THE   OLD   MAN 

Into  the  well! 

MOGU 

Into  the  well? 

THE   OLD   MAN 

The  gold  into  the  well  and  the  jewels  of  the  turban  also. 

^A  'pause. 

MOGU 

It  shall  be  said  that  Mogu  cast  his  jewels  and  gold  into 
the  well! 

[_He  throws  into  the  well  the  string  of  coins  and  the  jewels 
on  the  turban. 

MOGU 

What  now.  Old  Man? 

THE   OLD   MAN 

Your  right  hand  shall  be  over  a  King! 
[He  disappears. 


42  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

MOGU 

From  this  moment  I  am  the  Vizier  indeed!  My  right 
hand  shall  be  over  a  King! 

[Kassim-Farraj  enters  from  R.,  followed  by  the  three 
Ethiopian  captives,  Yunan,  Duhan  and  Zahal.  Two  of 
the  captives  carry  an  open  trunk,  and  one  walks  behind. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

My  Lord  Mogu,  the  unworthy  person  who  stands  be- 
fore you  is  the  Historiographer  of  the  Vizier,  Kassim- 
Farraj. 

MOGU 

We  have  heard  of  you,  Kassim-Farraj.  What  have  you 
brought? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Personally  I  have  brought  tablets  to  fill  up  with  your 
deeds,  my  Lord.  These  trusted  Ethiopian  captives, 
Yunan,  Duban  and  Zahal,  bring  in  the  trunk  in  which 
you  behold  the  robes  and  emblems  proper  to  a  Vizier. 

MOGU 

I  shall  put  on  the  robes  and  emblems  before  I  go  into 
the  Vizier's  litter. 

[^The  Three  Ethiopian  captives  stand  by  the  trunk  and  dis- 
play the  robes.     The  ass-tenders  with  camp  followers  and 
soldiers  crowd  in  on  all  sides. 
KASSIM-FARRAJ  {putting  the  robe  on  Mogu) 

This  is  the  robe  that  has  been  mentioned  in  the  his- 
tories of  Persia.  (Mogu  adopts  a  dignified  attitude.  The 
crowd  express  admiration)  And  this  is  the  sword  of  the 
Vizier.    Its  blade  is  graven  with  mystic  names. 

MOGU 

It  may  be  that  I  shall  carry  that  sword  in  my  hand. 
l^The  sword  is  laid  against  the  trunk.    The  crowd  gape  at  it. 
Kassim-Farraj  brings  over  another  object  to  Mogu. 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  43 

MOGU 

Ha!  What  is  this? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  is  the  mirror  of  brass,  a  precious  possession  of  the 

Viziers  of  Persia. 

[_He  holds  the  mirror  to  Mogu. 

MOGU 

This  then  is  Mogu,  the  Vizier  of  the  King!    The  turban 
becomes  you,  Mogu,  and  the  robe  also.    But  you  are 
lean,  Mogu,  lean.    A  Vizier  may  devour  men! 
\_Shedad  and  Shedid  appear  before  Mogu. 

MOGU 

Where  is  my  htter,  Shedad  and  Shedid? 

SHEDID 

Your  htter  is  on  the  way.  Lord  Mogu. 

MOGU 

Why  did  you  not  hasten  its  coming?  Would  you 
have  the  Vizier  walk  to  the  Baths?  {Slaves  hurry  in 
with  the  litter.  It  is  lowered,  and  Mogu  steps  into  it. 
The  litter  is  lifted  up)  There  is  one  thing  still  upon  my 
mind. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

What  is  it,  O  Lord? 

MOGU 

Bid  the  people  be  silent. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Be  silent,  O  People.    The  Vizier  would  speak. 

[_All  become  silent  and  attentive. 

MOGU 

It  has  been  said  from  old  times  —  yea,  it  has  been 
written  in  many  books  —  that  a  man  who  has  survived 


44  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  i 

his  enemies,  even  for  one  hour,  has  happiness.  Is  it 
not  true,  O  People? 

SOME 

We  have  heard  it  said. 

OTHERS  > 

We  know  it  to  be  true! 

MOGU 

Therefore,  I  will  not  enter  the  bath  until  mine  enemies, 
Shedad  and  Shedid,  have  been  beaten.  Let  them  be 
tied  to  the  place  of  punishment  and  beaten  with  sticks. 
I,  the  Vizier,  command  this.  {The  crowd  lay  hands  on 
Shedad  and  Shedid)  Let  them  be  beaten  so  that  I  may- 
hear  their  groans  before  I  go  to  the  bath.  {Shedad  and 
Shedid  are  fastened  to  the  crosspieces)  Bearers,  lower 
the  Vizier.  Let  the  Sword  of  the  Enchantments  be 
given  to  me.  {The  litter  is  laid  on  the  ground,  and 
Kassim-Farraj  brings  Mogu  the  sword.  Mogu  gets  out 
of  the  litter.  Taking  the  sword  from  the  scabbard,  he 
flashes  it  about)  Mogu,  Mogu,  Mogu!  Thy  genius 
hath  touched  thee,  Mogu!  Thou  hast  triumphed,  thou 
hast  liberated  thyself  from  the  desert,  thou  hast  be- 
come a  terror  to  men!  The  Empire  is  thine,  Mogu, 
—  the  gold,  the  purple,  the  women.  The  world  trem- 
bles at  thy  shadow! 

[JSe  gets  into  the  litter.  The  bearers  move  to  carry  it  L. 
They  are  met  by  another  litter,  entering.  This  litter  has 
a  Roman  guard. 

THE  ROMAN  GUARD 

Make  way  for  the  Lord  Helenus! 

MOGU'S  GUARD 

Make  way  for  the  Lord  Mogu. 

THE  ROMAN  GUARD 

Room  for  Caesar's  ministers! 


ACTi]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  45 

MOGU'S  GUARD 

Room  for  Mogu,  the  Vizier  of  the  King! 
^The  litter  is  driven  backwards  and  forwards  amid  cries 
of  "Ccesar,   Caesar''  ''Mogu,  Mogu.''    Mogu's  litter  is 
at  last  forced  through.     The  servants  and  the  rabble  rush 
after  Mogu  with  shouts. 

CURTAIN 


THE  SECOND  ACT 

The  Hall  of  Histories.  It  is  a  great  ruin:  at  the  hack 
pillars  remain  with  paintings^  sculptures  and  inscriptions 
upon  them.  In  the  foreground  certain  pillars  have  fallen. 
Left  are  fragments  of  pillars  with  great  stones  strewing 
the  ground. 

Chosroes  and  Nuseyr  passy  returning  from  the  chase. 
There  is  an  attendant  with  them.  Chosroes  carries  a 
falcon. 

CHOSROES 

Nuseyr,  what  presents  shall  we  send 
Our  father-in-law? 

NUSEYR 

The  basket  of  Syrian  peaches,  King. 

CHOSROES 

Not  those,  Nuseyr; 

The  Syrian  peaches  are  a  gift  for  Caesar. 

NUSEYR 

Then  let  the  father  of  Narjis,  my  Lord, 
Be  honored  more  than  Caesar. 
And  with  the  Syrian  peaches  there  should  go 
A  basket  of  the  lilies  of  Damascus. 

CHOSROES 

But  these  blossoms 

Are  perfect  loveliness,  Nuseyr. 

NUSEYR 

And  with  the  peaches  and  the  lilies 

A  jar  of  the  wine  of  Shiraz  should  be  given. 


Aciii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  47 

CHOSROES 

Nuseyr,  your  habit 

Of  thinking  lyrically,  becomes  expensive  to  me. 

But  still  you'll  see  that  I 

Shall  have  all  sent  — 

The  lilies,  and  the  peaches  and  the  wine.     {He  gives  the 

falcon  to  an  attendant  and  speaks  to  him)     Go  to 

Sparimixes,  and  bid  him  send  to  Mogu 
The  rarities  of  the  Pavilion,  and  make  the  Steward 

know 
The  lilies  and  the  peaches  and  the  wine 
Are  rarities  indeed,  and  bid  him  send  them 
By  trusted  messengers.     Now  make  him  understand 
That  if  even  one  blossom  of  the  lilies 
Should  go  astray,  that  I  shall  have  him 
Impaled    outside  the   Camp,   and  that   forty   of   his 

kinsmen 
Shall  be  impaled  beside  him.     Make  him  understand. 
{The  attendant  goes  off  R.)     My  Narjis  will  come 
To  this  place  at  this  hour,  and  I  shall  take  her 
To  see  the  fish-ponds;   after  that,  Nuseyr, 
You  and  I  will  don  disguise  and  go 
Where  Mogu  gives  the  judgments  of  a  Vizier. 

NUSEYR 

I  am  reading  the  inscription 
Upon  the  pillar  here. 

CHOSROES 

The  form  of  the  writing  is  unknown 
To  me,  Nuseyr. 

NUSEYR 

The  writing  says: 

"The  love  of  this  fair  woman  has  taken  away 

The  shadow  from  my  path." 


48  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

CHOSROES 

Such  an  inscription  I  shall  put  above 

The  gate  of  the  City  I  am  about  to  rebuild; 

My  sacred  City,  Shira. 

NUSEYR 

It  says  too  .  .  .  But  no  — 

CHOSROES 

What  else  is  in  the  writing? 

NUSEYR 

After  a  little  I  will  interpret  it. 

CHOSROES 

I  shall  rebuild 

My  sacred  Capital,  and  I  will  have 
High  towers  in  it,  and  astronomers 
Shall  come,  and  observe  new  courses,  and  inform  us 
Of  the  austere  ways  of  the  Heavens;   also  Greek  phil- 
osophers 
Shall  come,  and  shall  explain  to  us  the  mysteries 
Of  lines  and  figures.    I  shall  have  musicians  too. 
Also,  Nuseyr,  I  have  had  a  message 
From  one  beyond  the  desert,  an  Arabian; 
And  he  maintains,  Nuseyr,  that  God  is  one. 
This  man  shall  also  come,  and  he  shall  debate 
This  speculation  with  Greeks  and  Indians, 
And  with  men  who  know  themselves  to  be 
Reincarnated  priests  of  the  Egyptians. 

NUSEYR 

May  my  lord  have  peace  in  Shira. 

CHOSROES 

I  shall  put  away  the  harem 
That  encumbers  all  my  soul. 


ACT  ii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  49 

NUSEYB 

And  give  your  love  to  the  daughter  of  the  desert, 
Narjis. 

CHOSROES 

I  would  that  there  were  one  to  whom  I  could 
Confide  the  government  of  the  Empire;   but  that  son 

of  mine, 
Prince  Pharanices,  thinks  only  of  the  wine-cup. 

NUSEYR 

And  the  stable. 

CHOSROES 

The  wine-cup  and  the  stable.  Then  there  is  Artavades — 

NUSEYR 

I  have  said  King  Artavades 

Is  like  a  Tartar's  hound;  he  flies  from  one, 

Or  paws,  or  springs  upon  one,  and  no  one  knows  — 

He  does  not  know  himself  —  what  he  will  do. 

CHOSROES 

He  is  a  tool 

For  those  iron-handed  Romans.     I  have  not  forgiven 

Artavades 
That  he  has  kept  his  army,  and  gave  no  aid 
To  me  nor  to  the  Romans  in  the  battle. 

NUSEYR 

Behold,  the  beloved  has  come. 

[^Narjis,  with  women  attendants^  has  appeared  R. 

CHOSROES 

And  you  will  Hve  in  Shira,  and  I  shall  give  you 
Desirable  women. 

NUSEYR 

May  it  not  be 

That  my  soul  too  is  encumbered. 


50  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [actii 

CI^OSROES 

You  shall  have 

A  hundred  disciples.    But  you  have  not  read 
What  remains  of  the  inscription.     Read  it  to  me 
When  we  come  back  this  way,  for  we  shall  return 
On  our  way  from  Mogu's  judgments.     Nuseyr,  farewell. 
{Chosroes  goes  off  R. 
NUSEYR  {reading  the  inscription) 
"A  little  hole  was  made 

In  his  harness,  and  the  life  of  the  King  departed." 
The  King  will  go  to  Shira,  then  I  shall  go 
To  India,  and  the  branch  of  a  tree 
Shall  be  my  sacred  city,  and  my  life 
Shall  become  part  of  the  silence;   now  I  know 
Too  many  words  and  too  many  images 
Have  trampled  through  my  mind.     Yea,  my  soul. 
We'll  go  one  day  to  India,  and  to 
The  sacred  silence. 

{Nuseyr  goes  off.  The  Crier  of  the  Camp  comes  on  with 
his  rattle. 

THE   CRIER 

These  are  the  words  of  the  Assembly  of  the  Camp: 
We  have  considered  the  loss  suffered  by  the  Lord  Mogu, 
the  Vizier:    to  wit,  the  loss  of  his  familiar  plaything, 
namely,  Simsim,  a  mouse. 
{Mogu,  richly  dressed,  comes  on  vnth  Kassim-Farraj. 

MOGU 

He  speaks  of  Simsim.  i 

THE   CRIER 

Thus  saith  the  Assembly:  Be  it  decreed  that  fifty  Cap- 
tains of  the  Army  search  diligently  for  Simsim,  with 
the  intention  of  restoring  him  with  all  honor  to  the 
Vizier. 


ACT  ii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  51 

MOGU 

We  are  pleased  by  this. 

THE    CRIER 

And  be  it  requested  from  the  Stewards  of  the  King,  that 
the  Royal  Huntsmen,  Barrabash  and  Burrabash,  be 
asked  to  add  themselves  to  the  searchers. 

MOGU 

This  is  no  less  than  a  multitude.  It  will  put  my  mouse 
into  a  fright.    I  know  Simsim. 

THE   CRIER 

A  sweet-voiced  damsel,  namely  Food-of-Hearts,  is  to 
accompany  the  searchers,  so  that  her  voice,  reminding 
him  of  his  master,  may  lure  Simsim  from  his  secret 
place. 

MOGU 

There  is  sense  in  that.  I  hope  she  is  really  sweet- voiced, 
this  Food-of-Hearts. 

THE   CRIER 

With  the  consent  of  Chosroes,  let  it  be  done. 

MOGU 

Let  it  be  done.  {The  Crier  of  the  Camp  goes  off)  Yes, 
Kassim-Farraj,  my  story  is  wonderful,  and  should  be 
engraved  on  plates  of  gold  and  kept  in  the  treasure 
houses  of  kings.  As  I  was  telling  you,  I  was  carried 
to  the  baths,  and  I  disported  myself  in  a  tank  of  water 
that  had  been  infused  with  rose-water.  The  fountain 
played  upon  me  then,  and  thereafter  I  was  rubbed 
with  the  bag. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

My  Lord,  you  speak  of  these  things  with  an  eloquent 
tongue. 

MOGU 

I  was  rubbed  with  the  bag,  as  I  have  said.    And  the 


52  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

man  who  rubbed  showed  me  the  multitude  of  impure 
particles  that  had  adhered  to  my  skin.  These  impure 
particles  were  suflficient  to  astonish  the  mind  by  reason 
of  their  multitude  and  magnitude. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

My  Lord,  you  make  common  things  remarkable. 

MOGU 

You  have  not  permission  to  speak  thus,  Kassim-Farraj. 
Thereafter  I  sat  on  a  mattress,  and  my  feet  were  rubbed 
by  a  well-formed  damsel.  I  still  think  of  that  damsel. 
Moon-of-Love  was  her  name. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

You  must  not  forget  about  the  marriage  contract,  my 
Lord. 

MOGU 

The  marriage  contract  with  Shedad's  daughter  —  is  it 
not  so.f^ 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Yea,  my  Lord.    I  would  speak  to  you  about  it  here. 

MOGU 

You  have  permission.  But  what  damsel  is  this  that 
approaches? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  is  the  damsel  that  the  Crier  spoke  of,  —  Food-of- 
Hearts. 

MOGU 

It  is  she  who  brings  Simsim. 

\_Food-of -Hearts  enters,  carrying  a  little  cage. 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

I  bring  my  Lord  a  cage  of  ivory  with  golden  bars. 

MOGU 

DeUver  it. 

{_Food-qf -Hearts  hands  Mogu  the  cage. 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  53 

MOGU 

But  Simsim  is  not  in  the  cage. 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

Alas,  my  Lord,  Simsim  refused  to  disclose  himself. 

MOGU 

And  I  have  been  given  an  empty  cage. 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

They  thought  it  would  be  some  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  Simsim.    It  is  of  ivory  and  gold. 

MOGU 

It  is  no  compensation.  But  let  it  be  placed  amongst 
my  treasures.  A  piece  of  ivory  has  been  left  in  the 
cage.  I  will  bestow  it  upon  you,  Food-of -Hearts. 
{He  takes  the  piece  of  ivory  out  of  the  cage)  There  is 
a  painting  on  it.    Lo,  it  is  the  painting  of  a  woman. 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

O  my  Lord,  I  crave  indemnity.  The  cage  was  once  the 
Lady  Gazeleh's,  and  it  may  be  that  her  portrait  has 
been  left  in  it. 

MOGU 

Is  it  the  portrait  of  one  who  is  in  this  world,  or  is  it  of 
one  who  is  in  the  Gardens  of  Eternity.'^  On  your  life, 
speak. 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

It  is  the  portrait  of  one  who  is  in  the  world,  Lord. 

MOGU 

Of  one  who  is  in  the  world!    Lo,  my  soul  is  seized  upon, 
and  haled  out  of  my  body. 
IHe  falls  on  the  ground. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  Food-of -Hearts,  what  have  you  done? 

FOOD-OF-HEARTS 

The  cage  was  taken  from  the  keeping  of  the  Lady 


54  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

Gazeleh,  and  she  prevailed  upon  me  to  let  the  Vizier 
see  the  portrait  and  the  writing  that  is  on  the  back 
of  it. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

You  have  distracted  the  mind  of  the  Vizier.  {Be  raises 
Mogu  from  the  ground)  Behold,  he  looks  on  us  with 
unseeing  eyes !  And  this  is  the  hour  when  Shedad  with 
his  brother  and  the  notables  of  the  Persian  Empire 
are  to  wait  on  him  with  proposals  for  his  marriage  with 
Jemeleh,  Shedad's  daughter.  Go,  you  bird-brained 
girl. 
{Food-oJ-Hearts  goes  off. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  do  you  not  recall  that  a  moment  ago  we 
were  speaking  of  the  affairs  of  the  Empire? 

MOGU 

Gazeleh! 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

And  you  had  said  that  your  Genius  would  enable  you 
to  further  the  Empire  of  the  Persians,  and  that  the 
country  of  the  Greeks  should  be  laid  under  tribute,  — 
the  country  of  the  Greeks  where  the  wine  of  Cyprus 
comes  from,  and  where  the  women  go  about  with  their 
faces  unveiled? 

MOGU  ' 

How  could  I  have  known  about  women  when  I  had  not 
seen  the  portrait  of  Gazeleh? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  you  had  given  your  mind  to  the  thought  of 
Jemeleh. 

MOGU 

Who  is  this  Jemeleh? 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  55 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

The  daughter  of  Shedad,  my  Lord.  She  has  been  de- 
scribed as  the  mistress  of  moon-Hke  beauties. 

MOGU 

I  know  not  that  I  have  ever  been  aware  of  her  existence. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  the  marriage  contract  has  already  been 
made  out,  and  some  score  darricks  of  gold  have  been 
mentioned  as  a  dowry. 

MOGU 

Kassim-Farraj,  you  distract  my  mind  from  the  thought 
of  Gazeleh. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

And  at  this  very  moment,  my  Lord,  Shedad  and  Shedid 
and  the  notables  of  the  Persian  Empire  approach  with 
the  marriage  contract. 

MOGU 

Receive  them,  Kassim-Farraj.    I  would  withdraw  my- 
self to  gaze  upon  the  loveliness  of  Gazeleh. 
l^Shedad  and  Shedid,  with  two  of  their  friends,  notables 
of  the  Persian  Empire,  enter,  discussing. 

SHEDID 

Already  he  is  known  as  the  Fortunate  Vizier. 

FIRST   NOTABLE 

Yes,  Friend,  but  twoscore  darricks  of  gold  — 

SHEDAD 

This  alliance  will  hft  us  into  splendor  and  tumble  us 
into  beggary. 

SHEDID 

It  will.  Brother,  it  will. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lords  Shedad  and  Shedid,  and  Notables  of  the 


50  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  n 

Empire,  I  know  not  how  to  speak  my  embarrassment 
to  you.  The  Fortunate  Vizier  has  fallen  into  a  maze  of 
thought.  I  do  not  know  how  to  draw  his  attention  to 
the  business  of  the  marriage  contract. 

FIRST  NOTABLE 

What !  Surely  the  contract  of  marriage  with  the  daugh- 
ter of  our  notable  relative  cannot  have  gone  from  his 
mind? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  may  be  that  I  can  draw  his  mind  back  to  it.  {He 
indicates  a  hoy  who  carries  cups  and  a  jar  of  wine)  Is 
this  your  cup-bearer,  Lords? 

SHEDAD 

It  is  our  cup-bearer. 
l^Kassim-Farraj  goes  to  Mogu, 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

My  Lord,  my  Lord,  behold  the  cup-bearer,  my  Lord. 
MOGU  {as  if  waking  up) 

Is  this  the  hour  when  I  should  drink  a  cup  of  wine, 
Kassim-Farraj  ? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Yea,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

Have  engraved  on  my  wine-cup  the  name  Gazeleh. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Yea.  And  my  Lord,  these  notables  would  drink  a  cup 
of  wine  with  the  Fortunate  Vizier. 

MOGU 

I  shall  drink  with  them,  Kassim-Farraj.  {The  boy  Jills 
a  cup  for  Mogu.  Fills  another  for  Shedad.  Mogu  goes 
over  and  drinJcs  with  Shedad,  apparently  without  recog- 
nizing him)    I  drink  with  you,  O  Scant  of  Beard. 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  57 

SHEDAD 

I  drink  with  you,  my  Lord. 

[They  raise  cups  and  drink  with  ceremony.     Boy  fills 

Mogu's  cup  again.    Fills  Shedid's  cup, 

MOGU 

I  drink  with  you,  O  Scrawny  Neck. 

SHEDID 

I  drink  with  you,  my  Lord. 

[They  raise  cups  and  drink  with  ceremony.     Boy  fills 
.  Moguls  cup  again.    Fills  cup  of  first  notable, 

MOGU 

I  drink  with  you,  0  Lank  of  Jaw. 
FIRST  NOTABLE  {who  is  pretcntious) 
I  drink  with  you,  my  Lord. 
[Boy  fills  Moguls  cup  again.    Fills  cup  of  second  notable, 

MOGU 

I  drink  with  you,  O  Man  with  the  Face  of  an  Ant-eating 
Beast. 
SECOND  NOTABLE  (who  IS  dignified) 
I  drink  with  you,  my  Lord. 
[They  drink  with  ceremony, 

MOGU 

For  the  cup,  0  Boy.    Another  draught. 

[The  boy  fills  the  cup  again.     Mogu  drinks  alone, 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  I  crave  that  you  look  with  an  eye  of  benig- 
nity on  the  notables  assembled  before  you. 

MOGU 

Is  there  one  amongst  them  who  can  relate  a  tale  or 
perform  an  extraordinary  action? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Nay,  my  Lord  Mogu. 


58  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

MOGU 

I  would  that  there  was  one  amongst  them  who  could 
perform  an  extraordinary  action  or  relate  a  tale,  for 
my  mind  is  remote  from  business,  and  I  would  be 
diverted. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

I  crave  my  Lord's  attention. 

MOGU 

Nay,  Kassim-Farraj,  I  cannot  attend. 
KASSIM-FARRAJ  (imploringly) 
The  business  of  the  marriage  contract,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

What  do  you  say,  Kassim-Farraj.'^ 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

0  my  Lord,  these  notables  of  the  empire  wait  upon 
you  with  regard  to  a  contract  of  marriage  between  you, 
the  Fortunate  Vizier,  and  the  fair  daughter  that  one 
of  them,  Shedad,  possesses.  The  contract  was  spoken 
of  before,  and  you,  my  Lord,  even  made  proposals 
which  have  been  considered.  And  the  amount  of  the 
dowry  to  go  with  the  bride  is  twoscore  darricks  of 
gold. 

MOGU 

1  remember  that  twoscore  darricks  of  gold  were  spoken 
about.  I  shall  speak  with  these  notables.  One  of  them 
is  the  father  of  the  bride.  He  is  to  be  treated  with 
respect  and  veneration. 

[^Shedady  Shedid,  and  the  two  notables  are  standing  in  a 
line  across.  Mogu  hows  to  man  nearest  bach,  keeping  his 
body  rigid  and  jerking  his  head  three  times. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  the  noble  whom  you  salute  is  not  the  father 
of  the  bride. 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  59 

MOGU  {apparently  in  astonishment) 

Is  not  this  Shedad,  the  Chamberlain  of  the  King? 

[Jle  stands  before  the  second  man  and  salutes  him  in  the 

same  manner. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  again  you  are  mistaken. 

MOGU 

What,  is  not  this  the  father  of  the  bride? 

[He  stands  before  Shedid  and  salutes  him  in  the  same 

manner. 

KASSBl-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  again  you  are  mistaken. 
[_Mogu  looks  round  him.    He  sees  Shedad,  who  is  stand- 
ing in  excess  of  vexation. 

MOGU 

0  Kassim-Farraj,,  inform  us  if  this  undistinguished 
person  is  the  father  of  the  bride  who  has  been  described 
to  us  as  the  mistress  of  moon-Uke  beauties. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

My  Lord  gazes  on  Shedad,  his  future  father-in-law. 

MOGU  (looking  fixedly  at  Shedad) 

Thou  hast  indemnity,  Shedad.  {Shedad  draws  out  a 
long  scroll.  Mogu  turns  away)  Kassim-Farraj,  I  would 
have  you  remind  me  to  drink  a  cup  of  Greek  wine  in 
the  morning  after  the  bath. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

1  crave  my  Lord's  attention. 

MOGU 

Nay,  Kassim-Farraj. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

The  business  of  the  marriage  contract,  my  Lord. 


60 MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  n 

MOGU 

We  will  gratify  you,  Kassim-Farraj,  by  regarding  it. 
What  articles  are  embodied  in  the  contract? 

SHEDAD 

I  do  not  ask  a  bride-price,  my  Lord,  but  my  relatives 
and  myself  rely  upon  receiving  the  protection  of  the 
Vizier. 

MOGU 

I  shall  bestow  upon  you  and  your  relatives  the  protec- 
tion you  solicit.  {Shedad  is  about  to  bring  the  scroll  to 
him,  but  Mogu  motions  him  away)  Some  score  of  dar- 
ricks  of  gold  are  to  go  with  the  damsel  as  a  dowry.  Is 
it  not  so? 

SHEDAD 

Twoscore  darricks  of  gold.  It  has  been  embodied  in  the 
marriage  contract,  my  Lord  Mogu. 

MOGU 

Also  the  dress  and  ornaments  of  the  bride  must  not  be 
worth  less  than  a  thousand  small  pieces  of  gold. 
[^Shedad  faints.     Shedid  fans  him,  and  the  two  notables 
support  him. 

SHEDID 

My  brother's  life  has  been  imperilled  by  the  shock  of 
the  Vizier's  demands.     We  will  ask  the  Vizier  to  dis- 
miss the  business  of  the  marriage  contract. 
SHEDAD  (recovering) 

We  will  go  back  to  our  homes. 

FIRST  NOTABLE 

If  the  Vizier  will  abate  his  demands,  I  and  my  brother 
will  be  a  surety  that  the  dress  and  ornaments  of  the 
damsel  shall  not  be  worth  less  than  five  hundred  small 
pieces  of  gold. 


ACT  ii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  61 

MOGU 

I  shall  ask  my  historiographer  if  it  has  been  known  that 
a  Vizier  has  been  thus  stinted  in  regard  to  the  dress 
and  ornaments  of  his  bride. 

KASSBi-FARRAJ 

It  has  been  known,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

Then  it  shall  be  that  the  dress  and  ornaments  of  the 
bride  shall  be  worth  five  hundred  small  pieces  of  gold. 

KASSBI-FARRAJ 

0  fortunate  Jemeleh. 

MOGU 

Jemeleh!    What  have  you  said,  Kassim-Farraj? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Jemeleh  is  the  name  the  bride  bears. 

MOGU 

Oh,  woe  to  thee,  Kassim-Farraj.    How  could  it  be  that 

1  should  wed  one  who  is  not  Gazeleh.?  O  Gazeleh! 
Oh,  arrows  and  spears  of  beauty! 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

The  Vizier  has  fallen  into  a  maze  again. 

SECOND   NOTABLE 

It  is  plain  that  the  Vizier  diverts  himself  with  our 
business. 

SHEDID 

It  is  proper  for  us  to  go  from  his  presence.     Come, 
Brother. 
SHEDAD  (rolling  up  marriage,  contract) 
We  go  to  our  homes,  my  Lord,  and  we  take  the  marriage 
contract  with  us. 

MOGU 

Verily,  I  do  not  know  what  you  say. 

[^Shedady  Shedid,  and  the  two  notables  go  off  in  anger. 


62  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

KA.SSIM-FARRAJ  {tO  Mogu) 

My  Lord,  you  have  lost  Jemeleh  for  a  bride  and  two- 
score  darricks  of  gold,  with  dress  and  ornaments  worth 
five  hundred  small  pieces  of  fold. 

MOGU 

Verily  my  mind  is  one  spasm  of  distraction.  O  Gazeleh, 
Oh,  seductiveness  of  woman. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

You  do  not  even  know  who  Gazeleh  is. 

MOGU 

O  Kassim-Farraj,  inform  me  who  Gazeleh  is. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Until  she  secluded  herself  from  him,  Gazeleh  was  the 
favorite  wife  of  Chosroes,  King  of  Persia. 

MOGU 

Oh,  Oh,  Oh!  I  shall  be  cut  in  pieces  for  having  spoken 
about  her. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Not  so.  Your  daughter  is  now  the  delight  of  the  King. 
Gazeleh  has  taken  her  papers  of  divorce. 

MOGU 

Nevertheless,  Chosroes  will  punish  me  for  having 
desired  her. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Not  so.  She  is  now  out  of  his  mind,  and  your  daughter 
fills  the  whole  of  it. 

MOGU 

Would  that  I  could  believe  it  were  so.  Tell  me,  Kassim- 
Farraj,  has  it  ever  been  known  that  a  Vizier  has  married 
one  who  had  been  wife  to  the  King? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  has  been  known.    Several  notables  and  high  officers 


ACT  n]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  63 

have  married  women  out  of  the  King's  harem.  You 
will  observe  them  at  the  banquet  to-night. 

MOGU 

But  Gazeleh!  It  is  not  possible  that  the  King  would 
permit  such  a  one  to  go  from  him  and  to  wed  with 
another! 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  is  possible. 

MOGU 

Behold,  there  is  a  writing  on  the  back  of  this  por- 
trait! I  would  have  you  read  it  to  me,  Kassim- 
Farraj. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

The  writing  says;  Listen,  my  Lord  Vizier. . 

MOGU 

Yea,  Kassim-Farraj. 
KASSIM-FARRAJ  (reading) 

"There  are  two  in  the  Camp  who  will  profess  them- 
selves to  be  Ambassadors.  If  the  Vizier  seizes  these 
two,  he  shall  come  to  remarkable  honors.  From  one 
who  wishes  him  all  honor  and  victory:  Gazeleh,  the 
Daughter  of  Sparimixes." 

MOGU 

I  shall  remember  this.  "Gazeleh,  the  Daughter  of 
Sparimixes!"     Who  is  Sparimixes,  Kassim-Farraj. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

He  has  no  rank,  but  he  has  much  power.  Every- 
thing seems  to  come  into  his  hands,  and  everything 
seems  to  come  to  his  ears.  She  might  know  much, 
the  daughter  of  Sparimixes! 

MOGU 

And  she  wishes  me  all  honor  and  all  victory!  O 
Gazeleh! 


64  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

And  now,  my  Lord,  I  would  that  you  could  rid  your 
mind  of  this  distraction,  for  the  time  has  come  when 
you  give  judgments  in  the  Hall  of  Nimrod's  Pillars. 

MOGU 

Has  the  time  come,  Kassim-Farraj  ?  Do  I  not  go  to  the 
judgments  in  a  litter? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

The  Vizier  walks  to  the  Hall  of  Judgments. 

MOGU 

Then  I  would  walk  to  the  Hall  of  Judgments  with  a 
haughty  and  conceited  gait. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  I  will  walk  before  you,  and  you  may  deign 
to  take  pattern  by  my  steps. 

MOGU 

Then  walk  before  me  with  an  arrogant  step. 
\_Kassim-Farraj  walks  out  L.  in  a  stilted  manner.    Mogu 
follows  hiniy  exaggerating  the  walk.     The  two  Ethiopian 
captives y    Yunan  and   Duban,   enter  from    R.,  carrying 
each  a  basket. 

YUNAN 

It  is  not  well  that  we  should  hasten,  Duban,  my  brother, 
seeing  that  when  these,  the  presents  to  the  Fortunate 
Vizier,  are  delivered,  we  shall  be  no  longer  together. 

DUBAN 

Then  it  is  not  well  that  we,  brothers  captive  in  the  camp 
of  the  Persians,  should  hasten.  I  would  be  a  little  with 
you,  Yunan,  my  brother.  I  bring  a  jar  of  the  wine  of 
Shiraz. 

YUNAN 

And  I  a  basket  of   the  lilies  of  Damascus.    O  Duban, 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  65 

my  brother,  may  we  not  sit  here  and  ease  ourselves 
for  a  while? 

DUB  AN 

We  are  wont  to  make  a  stay  here.  Do  you  remember  a 
saying  of  our  country,  Yunan? 

YUNAN 

What  is  the  saying,  my  brother? 

DUBAN 

The  day's  work  is  to  be  done,  but  more  excellent  than 
the  work  of  the  day  is  the  talk  of  the  day*s  work  by  the 
evening's  fire. 

YUNAN 

By  the  talk  round  the  fire,  man  is  distinguished  from 
the  beasts.  Poetry  and  story-telUng  are  in  this  talk 
by  the  fire! 

DUBAN 

0  Yunan,  those  in  captivity  are  as  the  beasts. 

YUNAN 

Last  night,  my  brother,  I  had  a  dream. 

DUBAN 

What  was  your  dream,  my  brother? 

YUNAN 

1  dreamt  that  you  and  I  and  Zahal,  our  brother,  were 
in  our  own  country  and  engaged  in  the  pastimes  of  our 
youth.  Oh,  it  was  beautiful,  my  dream!  I  thought 
that  we  glided  down  the  river  as  in  the  days  of  our 
youth.  I  thought  that  the  willow  grew  lightly  from  the 
mud,  and  that  green  branches  bent  down  to  the  stream. 

DUBAN 

Alas,  alas! 

YUNAN 

And  I  thought  that  my  brothers,  Duban  and  Zahal, 
were  happy  and  at  peace. 


ee  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

DUBAN 

I  pour  out  my  tears,  for  I  think  that  we  will  never  see 
the  Spring  in  those  happy  places,  my  brother. 

YUNAN 

Lying  awake,  this  thing  seemed  to  me  possible:  that 
we  might  escape  from  the  camp,  and  join  the  tribes  of 
the  desert,  and  so  win  our  way  back  to  the  country  of 
our  youth. 

DUBAN 

Our  brother  Zahal  has  invention  and  resolve,  and  he 
might  further  our  escape. 

\_Zahaly  a  man  taller  and  stronger  looking  than  the  other 
two  captives,  enters.    He  carries  the  basket  of  peaches. 

ZAHAL 

It  is  not  well  that  we  should  hasten,  seeing  that  when 
we  have  delivered  these  we  shall  be  no  longer  together. 

YUNAN 

Then  let  us  set  our  burdens  here  and  delight  each  other 
with  the  sight  of  the  things  that  we  carry. 
[They  set  their  baskets  down  on  the  stones. 

DUBAN 

O  my  Brothers,  behold  this:   It  is  a  jar  of  the  wine  of 

Shiraz ! 
ZAHAL  {lifting  an  inner  basket) 

Behold  these !    They  are  the  precious  peaches  of  Syria. 
YUNAN  {lifting  up  an  inner  basket) 

And    these    most    lovely    blossoms    are    the    lilies    of 

Damascus. 

DUBAN 

0  Zahal,  often  have  we  sought  for  you,  but  the  sight 
of  the  captive  was  denied  to  his  brethren.     Often  have 

1  said  to  Yunan:  "If  Zahal  were  with  us  he  would  give 
us  comfort  and  hope." 


ACT  ii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  67 

YUNAN 

Why  are  you  silent,  my  brother? 

ZAHAL 

I  have  seen  cranes  fly  over  my  head,  and  I  know  them 
to  be  of  the  tribe  that  stand  by  the  banks  of  the  be- 
loved stream! 

YUNAN 

We  are  of  the  unfortmiate  race  of  men  and  have  no 
wings  for  flight. 

ZAHAL 

Then  I  have  thrown  myself  upon  my  face  and  have  let 
my  heart  tell  me  a  tale  of  deliverance. 

DUBAN 

What  is  the  tale  that  has  deliverance  in  it? 

ZAHAL 

I  have  told  myself  that  the  camp  of  the  Persians  was 
overwhelmed,  and  that  we,  diving  under  the  water, 
as  it  were,  slipped  away  to  freedom. 

YUNAN 

And  how  did  the  camp  of  the  Persians  become  over- 
whelmed? 

ZAHAL 

Sometimes  —  and  this  is  a  terrible  thing  —  I  have 
told  myself  that  some  man  brought  steel  against  the 
King,  even  against  Chosroes,  and  slew  him. 

DUBAN 

Verily,  captives  harbor  in  their  minds  that  which  is 
indescribably  terrible! 

YUNAN 

O  brother,  relate  unto  us  what  happened  on  the  death 
of  him  whose  name  shall  not  be  breathed? 
\^The  face  of  Zahal  becomes  rigid,  his  eyes  roll,  his  hand 
stretches  out  to  the  'peaches. 


68  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

ZAHAL 

The  nobles  and  soldiers  were  in  confusion. 

YUNAN 

What  else,  my  brother? 
ZAHAL  {drawing  a  peach  towards  him) 

The  slaves  prevailed  against  the  stewards. 

DUBAN 

O  my  brother,  relate  this  thing  further. 

ZAHAL 

In  the  darkness  of  the  night  we  sped  away. 

\^He  devours  the  peach,  while  the  others  gaze  on  him, 

overwhelmed  with  terror. 

DUBAN 

O  woe  for  us,  Yunan! 

YUNAN 

Our  brother  has  devoured  one  of  the  peaches  of  Syria! 

ZAHAL 

O  hasten,  brothers,  present  your  gifts,  and  be  not 
spoken  of  with  me  who  am  doomed  to  death  on  account 
of  the  destruction  of  the  peach. 

YUNAN 

Nay,  we  will  not  leave  you,  brother. 

DUBAN 

Rather  will  we  doom  ourselves  with  you. 

\^He  takes  up  a  stone  and  breaks  the  wine  jar.     Yunan 

takes  up  the  narcissi  and  scatters  the  blossoms  around. 

YUNAN 

O  Blossoms  of  the  Narcissus,  bear  death  for  me  also. 
^Yunan  and  Duban  cover  their  faces  with  their  hands. 
Zahal  gazes  outward. 

DUBAN 

O  my  brothers,  the  river,  the  river!  See  with  what 
mystery  it  flows! 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  69 

YUNAN 

Behold  the  green  branches  of  the  willow  bear  them- 
selves above  the  burden  of  the  flood! 

DUBAN 

Not  yet  is  the  time  of  the  water-lilies.  And  lo,  we 
glide  down  the  stream,  three  brethren  of  the  one  house- 
hold. 

YUNAN 

And  amongst  the  torrents  who  are  hardier  than  we. 
Lo,  our  boat  is  in  the  torrent  that  is  called  The  Mother 
of  the  Stones ! 

DUBAN 

Pull  now,  and  our  toil  is  over  ere  the  lark  of  the  desert 
ends  his  strain! 

YUNAN 

O  Children  of  the  Stream! 

DUBAN 

0  Strong-armed  Heroes! 

YUNAN 

1  do  not  hear  the  voice  of  Zahal. 

ZAHAL 

Who  will  put  my  bow  in  my  hand? 

DUBAN 

What  bow  do  you  speak  of,  brother? 

ZAHAL 

I  have  made  a  bow  of  a  camel's  rib.  From  what  I 
have  plucked  from  the  horses'  tails  I  have  woven  a 
string  for  it.  I  have  pulled  reeds  from  the  river  and 
have  pointed  them  for  arrows.  And  I  am  what  I  was 
—  Zahal,  the  mighty  archer.  Who  will  put  the  bow 
in  my  hands? 

DUBAN 

What  would  you  do  with  the  bow,  my  brother? 


70  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  ii 

ZAHAL 

I  would  kill.  I  would  make  the  confusion  of  the 
torrent,  so  that  we  might  bear  ourselves  away. 

TUNAN 

Whom  would  you  kill,  my  brother? 

ZAHAL 

He  that  is  greatest.     I  would  kill  Chosroes,  the  King. 

Lo,  I  remember.     The  bow  and  an  arrow  I  have  hidden 

between  these  stones  where  we  were  wont  to  make 

stay. 

\jHe  searches  beside  the  stones  and  takes  up  a  rude  bow 

and  an  arrow. 

YUNAN 

O  my  brother,  put  the  oath  upon  us  so  that  we  may 

share  the  peril. 

[Zahal  grasps  the  hands  of  his  brothers. 

ZAHAL 

The  peach  has  been  eaten,  the  wine  jar  has  been  broken, 
the  blossoms  have  been  scattered,  and  therefore  we,  the 
Children  of  the  Stream,  must  kill  Chosroes  the  King. 

DUBAN 

By  my  soul  of  memories,  I  swear  to  kill  the  King. 

YUNAN 

By  my  love  for  you  twain,  I  swear  to  kill  the  King. 

ZAHAL 

We  will  stay  here,  and  when  the  King  comes  on  his 
way  to  the  Pavilion,  I  will  shoot  mine  arrow  at  him. 
Lo,  I  shoot  now  at  a  mark,  so  that  ye  may  know  that 
my  skill  has  not  been  lost.  I  shoot  at  the  white  speck 
on  the  brown  stone  yonder. 
\_Zahal  draws  the  bow  and  shoots  an  arrow. 

YUNAN 

Lo,  thou  hast  struck  the  mark,  Zahal. 


ACTii]  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  71 

DUBAN 

Thou  hast  hit  it!    Thou  hast  hit  the  mark  with  thine 
arrow,  Zahal. 

[Zahal  stands  with  the   how  in   his  hands.     The   two 
brothers  crouch  beside  him,  intently  watching. 

CURTAIN 


THE  THIRD  ACT 
SCENE  I 

The  Hall  of  Nimrod^s  Pillars.  Only  a  small  part  of 
this  great  hall  is  shown.  Hangings  are  stretched  across 
ancient  pillars,  leaving  a  small  space  for  the  Vizier's 
divan.  Left  is  a  low  dais  with  cushions.  There  is  an 
entrance  Right.  The  Vizier's  entrance  is  through  a 
space  between  hangings  Center. 

A  guard  stands  beside  the  dais. 

Kassim-Farraj  enters  through  space  Center, 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

It  is  now  the  hour  for  the  Vizier's  judgments. 

THE  GUARD 

The  hour  of  the  Vizier's  judgments. 
[^Two  men  enter.     One  is  distinguished  in  bearing  and 
wears  a  sword;    a  turban  and  a  covering  along  his  face 
conceal  his  features.     The  other  is  small  and  supple, 
insinuating  in  bearing  and  loquacious  in  speech. 

SECOND  MAN 

We  are  ambassadors,  and  in  crossing  the  desert  this 
one  became  blind.  We  have  come  to  pay  homage  to 
the  Fortunate  Vizier. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

In  a  Httle  while  the  Vizier  will  appear. 

SECOND   MAN 

This  one  became  blinded  in  the  desert,  as  I  said.  Is  it 
permitted  to  sit  while  we  wait  the  coming  of  the  For- 
tunate Vizier? 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  73 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

If  he  is  a  worthy  person,  he  shall  have  indemnity. 
[The  First  Man  seats  himself  on  cushions  C. 

SECOND   MAN 

You  are  acquainted  with  the  Vizier?  You  are  his 
historiographer,  perhaps.  Will  you  inform  us  under 
what  title  he  prefers  to  become  known? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

As  yet  the  Vizier  has  assumed  no  title. 

\_Mogu  strides  out.    He  wears  the  Vizier*s  robe  of  black 

and  holds  a  whip  in  his  hand, 

MOGU 

This  whip  shall  give  me  my  title.    I  shall  be  known  as 
the  Vizier  with  the  Whip. 
KASSIM-FARRAJ  (bowing) 
The  Vizier  with  the  Whip. 

MOGU 

And  now,  K^ssim-Farraj,  I  shall  drink  my  customary 

cup  of  wine. 

[Kassim-Farraj  gives  him  wine  and  Mogu  drinks, 

MOGU 

We  shall  receive  the  ambassadors  first.  He  that  is 
acquainted  with  our  language  has  permission  to  speak. 
[The  Second  Man  comes  forward  with  many  prostrations y 
leaving  First  Man  seated  C.  As  he  comes  forward, 
Chosroes  and  Nuseyr  enter  R.,  disguised.  They  remain 
at  entrance. 

MOGU 

From  what  people  do  you  come? 

SECOND  MAN 

We  are  ambassadors  from  the  Arabians,  O  Fortunate 
Vizier. 


74  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  in 

MOGU 

And  what  words  have  you  for  us? 

SECOND  MAN 

O  Fortunate  Vizier,  your  elevation  has  been  foretold 
to  us  by  the  astrologers  of  our  country. 

MOGU 

We  listen  to  you,  O  Suppliants  of  the  Arabians. 

SECOND   MAN 

The  people  of  our  remote  province  would  deem  that 
their  land  had  attained  dignity  indeed  if  the  Fortunate 
Vizier  would  attend  a  banquet  we  are  about  to  pre- 
pare. 

MOGU 

And  this  banquet  —  when  does  it  take  place? 

SECOND  MAN 

To-morrow,  Magnificence. 

MOGU 

If  it  does  not  conflict  with  our  dignity,  we  will  attend. 

SECOND  MAN 

0  Fortunate  Vizier!  Our  province  hath  become  a 
kingdom  only  through  your  intercession. 

\7Ie  falls  on  his  knees,  holding  up  his  arms.  Mogu 
glances  along  the  hare  arms  and  then  takes  up  his  whip 
and  brandishes  it.  The  man  cowers  down.  The  First 
Man  springs  to  his  feet.  All  present  are  astonished  at 
Moguls  action. 

MOGU 

1  crave  forgiveness,  O  Ambassadors!  My  hand  in- 
advertently took  up  this  whip.  But  tell  me,  Ambas- 
sadors from  the  Arabians,  have  you  any  other  business 
besides  preparing  a  banquet? 

SECOND  MAN 

We  will  not  discuss  affairs  until  the  third  day.    And 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  75 

we  have  certain  rarities  with  us  that  the  Vizier  might 
care  to  look  upon. 

MOGU 

No  doubt.  I  am  looking  at  the  clasp  on  your  cloak. 
Is  it  of  gold  of  Arabia?  (Mogu  puts  his  hand  suddenly 
on  the  cloak,  tearing  it  off  with  the  tunic)  O  Dog  of  a 
Spy!  Would  you  persuade  us  that  the  Arabians  leave 
marks  of  chains  upon  the  arms  of  their  ambassadors? 
Well  do  I  know  the  marks  of  the  chains  that  I  saw 
when  the  sleeves  of  your  tunic  slipped  back.  {All  are 
astonished.  The  man  supposed  to  he  blind  draws  his 
sword  and  rushes  at  Mogu.  Mogu  knocks  the  sword  out 
of  his  hand  with  the  end  of  his  whip.  The  Guard  seizes 
this  man.  Kassim-Farraj  seizes  second  man.  Chosroes 
and  Nuseyr  look  on  with  interest)  Verily,  this  is  a 
person  of  distinction  —  this  man  with  the  sword. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  Vizier,  reveal  his  name  to  us. 

MOGU 

Presently  I  will  do  so,  Kassim-Farraj.     Look  upon  the 

man,  my  Guard. 

[Guard  looks  closely  at  his  prisoner, 

GUARD 

O  sight  to  astonish  mankind! 

MOGU 

The  Guard  is  astonished  at  the  greatness  of  him  whom 
Mogu  hfis  taken. 

GUARD 

O  Event  to  be  chronicled  in  the  Histories  of  Kings ! 

MOGU 

Speak.  Thou  hast  permission  to  inform  the  assembly 
of  this  person's  distinction. 


76  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  hi 

GUAKD 

This  is  none  other  than  King  Artavades. 

MOGU 

Said  I  not  so?  Did  I  not  inform  you  that  such  was 
the  case?  Have  you  not  seen  how  Mogu  the  Vizier 
takes  a  king  in  his  net? 

CHOSROES 

Artavades  here!    It  is  certain  he  has  come  as  a  spy. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  Vizier  who  has  been  fed  on  the  milk  of  wisdom  and 
rocked  in  the  cradle  of  experience! 

GUARD 

Behold  Chosroes,  the  Master  of  the  Persians,  is  here. 
\_Mogu  prostrates  himself. 

CHOSROES 

We  have  seen  how  your  wisdom  serves  us,  and  we  will 
bestow  a  distinction  upon  you  now.  To-night,  at  the 
banquet,  you  have  permission  to  cry  out  as  you  enter, 
"All  that  has  happened  has  proceeded  from  me." 
Guard,  take  King  Artavades  to  a  secure  place. 
\^The  Guard  takes  away  King  Artavades.  Another  guard 
enters  and  takes  Second  Man.  Chosroes  and  Nuseyr  go 
out. 

MOGU 

This  is  an  event  to  be  entered  in  the  book  of  my  history, 
Kassim-Farraj. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Already  I  have  entered  it  in  the  book  of  your  deeds. 
Lord  Mogu.  It  was  seen  by  all  that  your  right  hand 
was  over  a  king. 

MOGU 

My  right  hand  was  over  a  king!  When  was  that, 
Kassim-Farraj? 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  77 

KASSIM-FABRAJ 

When  you  took  King  Artavades. 

MOGU 

Yea.  When  I  took  King  Artavades  my  right  hand 
was  over  a  king.  This  troubles  me.  It  was  prophesied 
that  my  right  hand  should  be  over  a  king. 

KASSBI-FARRAJ 

And  now  the  prophecy  has  been  fulfilled. 

MOGU 

Say  not  so,  Kassim-Farraj.  I  am  disturbed  in  my 
mind  lest  the  taking  of  King  Artavades  should  be  the 
whole  of  the  prophecy.  When  I  had  taken  him,  I 
should  have  remembered  the  prophecy  and  thrown 
the  paring  of  a  nail  over  my  right  shoulder.  This  I 
neglected  to  do. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

This  shall  matter  nothing  to  the  Vizier  who  is  the 
friend  of  the  bestower  of  fortune  —  Chosroes  the  King. 

MOGU 

I  neglected  to  cast  the  paring  of  a  nail  over  my  left 
shoulder.  It  may  have  been  my  evil  genius  who 
caused  me  to  neglect  this.  (A  veiled  woman  enters 
through  the  space  C.  Mogu,  looking  around,  sees  her. 
The  woman  lifts  a  hand  out  of  her  wrappings)  O  Per- 
fume! O  Shapeliness!  {She  unveils  her  eyes  and  turns 
them  on  Mogu)  Oh,  arrows  and  spears  of  beauty. 
(She  lifts  her  half  bared  arms  and  makes  fluttering 
motions  with  her  hands)  O,  seductiveness  of  woman! 
O,  Gazeleh. 

THE  WOMAN 

Verily  I  am  Gazeleh.  Because  I  would  have  you 
know  me,  I  left  my  portrait  in  ivory  in  the  cage  that 
was  taken  to  you. 


78  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  iii 

MOGU 

But  will  not  Chosroes  punish  me  for  looking  upon 
you? 

GAZELEH 

Nay.  Nor  would  he  be  displeased  if  I  became  the 
Vizier's  wife. 

MOGU 

My  wife!     Is  such  a  thing  possible? 

[Gazeleh  unveils.     She  is  the  woman  of  the  harem  with 

painted  lips,  widened  eyes  and  joined  eyebrows, 

MOGU 

O  thou  Moon!  Thou  makest  me  sink  down  to  think 
that  such  a  one  as  you  would  come  to  me.  O  Mistress 
of  my  Soul!  And  could  Chosroes  turn  from  such 
delights  as  thou  couldst  give? 

GAZELEH 

Chosroes  is  one  that  turns  from  life.     I  come  to  thee 
because  thou  art  without  weariness. 
{She  puts  her  arms  round  his  neck. 

MOGU 

Is  it  true  what  thou  hast  said,  O  Gazeleh?  That  thou 
mayst  become  my  wife? 

GAZELEH 

After  the  ban^quet  to-morrow,  the  banquet  of  which  I 
heard  you  speak,  I  shall  become  your  bride. 

MOGU 

Can  it  be?  And  may  a  woman  of  the  harem  of  the 
Great  King  wed  with  another? 

GAZELEH 

Yes.  Many  women  of  the  harem  of  the  Great  King 
have  wed  with  the  chief  men  of  the  Empire. 

MOGU 

And  is  nothing  exacted  from  them  for  such  a  marriage? 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  79 

GAZELEH 

A  little  —  but  thou  shalt  see  them  at  the  Banquet  of 
the  King  to-night. 

MOGU 

0  Mistress  of  my  Soul!  Were  it  my  right  hand,  I 
should  not  begrudge  it  if  it  were  exacted  from  me  for 
my  marriage  with  thee. 

GAZELEH 

You  might  lift  up  your  right  hand  and  cover  what  is 
exacted. 

MOGU 

And  is  it  possible  that  thou  wilt  wed  me? 

GAZELEH 

After  the  banquet  to-morrow  —  yea. 
[They  embrace, 

MOGU 

1  know  not  but  my  mind  shall  be  distracted  by  this! 
[She  goes  from  him. 

GAZELEH 

And  my  dress  and  ornaments  shall  be  worth  more  than 
a  thousand  darricks  of  gold. 

MOGU 

0  my  Life!  And  how  shall  this  be  made  known  to  the 
King? 

GAZELEH 

1  shall  make  it  known  to  the  King  and  to  the  King's 
servants,  and  all  shall  be  prepared. 

MOGU 

Goest  thou  now,  O  Rapture  of  my  Heart? 

GAZELEH 

It  is  not  proper  that  I  should  remain  near  you  before 
all  things  are  put  in  order,  O  my  Lord ! 


80  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  m 

MOGU 

Alas,  thou  goest,  Light  of  mine  Eyes ! 

GAZELEH  I 

And  to-morrow  I  shall  come  as  my  Lord's  bride. 
[^She  goes  out. 

MOGU 

Verily  I  am  plunged  into  distraction.  {He  claps  his 
hands.  Kassim-Farraj  appears.  Mogu  puts  cushions 
around  and  on  top  of  him  as  he  reclines  on  the  dais) 
I  would  plunge  into  the  restfulness  of  sleep  from  this 
moment  until  it  is  time  for  the  banquet  and  the  bridal. 
I  would  dream  of  Gazeleh  without  the  distraction  of 
intervening  time.  O  Kassim-Farraj,  do  you  know  of 
languid  and  melting  music  that  you  might  play  to 
me? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

I  will  look  for  my  flute,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

I  would  that  you  would  find  it.  Also  bring  me  a  bowl 
of  rose-water,  Kassim-Farraj.  I  would  perfume  my 
beard.  (Kassim-Farraj  goes  through  opening  left  of 
dais)  O  Gazeleh!  My  mind  will  be  distracted  from 
the  affairs  of  the  Empire  until  at  least  three  days  of 
my  marriage  with  you!  (Kassim-Farraj  returns  with 
a  bowl  of  rose-water  and  a  flute.  He  places  the  bowl 
beside  Mogu.  Mogu  takes  off  his  turban  and  drenches  it 
with  rose-water.  He  puts  rose-water  on  his  beard  and 
fans  his  beard.  Kassim-Farraj  begins  to  play  the  flute. 
He  splutters  and  plays  badly)  I  like  such  music,  Kassim- 
Farraj.  It  reminds  me  that  Gazeleh  has  a  form  like 
unto  the  Oriental  willow.  (Kassim-Farraj  plays  a 
new  piece  as  badly  as  before)  Thy  music  is  wonderful, 
Kassim-Farraj.     It  reminds  me  that  Gazeleh  has  9. 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  81 

mouth  like  the  seal  of  Solomon.  Have  you  other 
ravishing  melodies? 

KA.SSIM-FARRAJ 

I  have  one  more  tune,  my  Lord. 
[He  plays  again  as  badly  as  before. 

MOGU 

Oh,  Oh,  Oh!  Thou  dost  remind  me,  Kassim-Farraj, 
that  Gazeleh  has  a  spot  on  her  neck  like  the  mark  of 
Ridwan.  Play  all  thy  tunes  over  again,  Kassim-Farraj ! 
(Kassim-Farraj  plays  on  the  flute  again,  while  Mogu 
Jans  his  beard  and  nods  his  head.  Two  fellows  enter, 
each  carrying  a  little  bag)  Kassim-Farraj,  explain  to 
these  men  that  the  mind  of  the  Vizier  is  remote  from 
business  and  that  he  cannot  attend  to  affairs. 

FIRST  FELLOW 

It  is  only  the  business  of  the  nose-trimming. 

MOGU 

The  beard-trimming,  he  means.    This  is  a  distraction, 
but  it  might  be  well  if  my  beard  was  trimmed  now. 
[He  goes  R.  of  dais. 

SECOND   FELLOW 

I  put  the  silk  handkerchief  round  his  neck  and  hold 
him  down  while  my  comrade  trims  his  nose. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

I  know  you  now.    You  are  Ishak  and  Shakakik,  the 
nose-cutters  of  the  Court. 
ISHAK  {sharpening  a  short  knife  cm  his  sleeve) 
Right  you  are.  Brother. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

And  you  have  come  to  cut  off  the  Vizier's  nose! 

SHAKALIK 

We  haven't  made  a  mistake,  have  we?  He  is  marrying 
a  lady  of  the  harem? 


82  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

ISHAK 

We  have  made  no  mistake.    Have  we,  brother? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

No  mistake.  But  I  think  that  the  Vizier  does  not 
know  that  he  has  to  wear  the  honorable  mark  of  nose- 
lessness. 

ISHAK 

He  must  be  a  stranger  to  these  parts. 

SHAKALIK 

He  is,  brother  —  he  is. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Keep  the  cutting  instruments  behind  your  backs  until 
I  explain  the  custom  to  him.     O  my  Lord  Mogu! 
MOGU  (appearing  at  opening  right  of  dais) 
What   is   it,   Kassim-Farraj  ?    May   I   not   have   my 
beard  trimmed  within? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

These  are  the  nose-trimmers,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

They  are  the  nose-trimmers,  did  you  say? 

ISHAK 

Aye,  the  nose-trimmers. 

MOGU 

I  do  not  understand  this. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Know  that  it  is  honorable  at  the  Court  of  Persia  for  a 
man  to  appear  noseless.  Often  the  King  deigns  to  let 
one  of  his  high  oflBcers  marry  a  lady  of  the  King's 
harem.  Then  the  High  Officer  delivers  himself  of  his 
nose.  It  is  a  penalty  and  a  badge  of  distinction  —  a 
penalty  because  the  King  suffers  injury  and  insult  even 
by  a  woman  whom  he  has  once  favored  passing  from 
him  to  another.     It  is  a  badge  of  distinction  because 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  83 

a  state  of  noselessness  lets  the  beholders  know  that 
such  a  one  possesses  one  whom  the  King  had  cherished. 

MOGU 

This  is  a  matter  of  which  I  should  have  been  informed. 

KASSIM-FAERAJ 

O  my  Lord,  you  would  have  been  informed  to-night  by 
seeing  noseless  men  at  the  banquet  of  the  King. 

MOGU 

And  for  marrying  a  lady  of  the  harem  a  man  loses  his 
nose.f^ 

KASSIM-FABRAJ 

It  is  so,  O  Vizier. 

MOGU 

Gazeleh,  O  Gazeleh!  But  even  for  her  sake  I  should 
preserve  my  nose.  How  could  such  a  one  as  she  have 
affection  for  a  noseless  man? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  my  Lord,  it  is  the  ladies  who  most  rigidly  insist  upon 
the  etiquette  of  nose-cutting.  For  how  could  it  be 
known  that  they  had  been  cherished  by  the  King  if 
their  husbands  appeared  as  full-nosed  beings  .^^ 

MOGU 

This  is  not  an  admirable  custom,  Kassim-Farraj. 

ISHAK 

We  brought  masks  with  us  to  show  you  how  some  of 
the  high-up  officers  looked  after  we  had  taken  their 
noses  off. 

SHAKALIK 

The  masks  are  in  wax,  and  we  took  them  after  we  had 

finished  the  job.     Here  is  the  mask  of  the  Satrap  Arta- 

banpan.    He  was  what  you  might  call  a  fine  nosed 

man! 

\JSe  takes  a  mask  out  of  his  bag  and  shows  it  to  Mogu, 


84  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  m 

ISHAK 

He  had  a  troublesome  kind  of  nose,  though.  One  of 
these  high-bridged  noses  that  are  bone  all  through. 
But  your  Lordship  can  see  that  we  made  a  clean  job 
of  it.    And  this  is  the  mask  of  Sestoraban! 

SHAKALIK 

A  putty  nose!  One  could  have  tweaked  it  off  with  a 
finger  and  thumb! 

ISHAK 

Then  here's  a  nose  like  your  Lordship's  —  a  well-set 
nose,  you  might  say  —  a  nose  with  a  tap-root.  If  I 
were  doing  it  again,  I  don't  say  but  I'd  grind  a  nose 
like  that  down. 

SHAKALIK 

I'd  use  the  turning-knife. 

ISHAK 

No.     I'd  grind  it  down. 

MOGU 

It  might,  after  all,  be  better  if  I  married  Shedad's 
daughter. 

KASSIM-FAERAJ 

But  think  of  the  honor  of  possessing  one  whom  the 
King  had  cherished. 

MOGU 

Yes.  But  still  my  nose  and  I  have  been  together  for 
so  long  that  it  would  be  a  pain  to  part  with  it. 

ISHAK 

Your  Lordship  has  what  I  might  call  one  of  the  old- 
fashioned  sort  of  noses  — 

SHAKALIK 

A  high,  bony  nose.  This  marrying  with  the  Kithaians 
is  bringing  in  a  middling  sort  of  nose. 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  85 

MOGU  {stroking  his  nose) 

I  am  only  now  beginning  to  be  acquain\:ed  with  my 
nose.  O  Kassim-Farraj,  must  my  nose  be  taken  oflf 
now? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Not  so.  Lord  Mogu. 

MOGU 

May  I  appear  at  the  banquet  of  the  King  to-night  with 
my  nose  upon  my  countenance? 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Assuredly,  my  Lord. 

MOGU 

Then  I  would  have  these  men  leave  me  to  stroke  my 
nose  for  a  while. 

ISHAK 

We  thought  that  as  the  marriage  is  on  for  to-morrow  — 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

O  Nose-cutters,  the  Vizier  will  ask  you  to  attend  him 
on  another  occasion. 

SHAKALIK 

Well,  seeing  as  we're  here  —  But  then  we  can  come 

back  again. 

£^They  go  towards  exit 

SHAKALIK 

If  his  Lordship  liked,  we  could  practise  a  little  before 
calling  on  him  again.  The  neck  of  a  boiled  hen  is  good 
to  practise  on. 

MOGU 

Procure  them  the  necks  of  many  boiled  hens,  Kassim- 
Farraj. 

ISHAK 

We  could  buy  them  ourselves  cheap,  your  Lordship. 


86  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  m 

MOGU 

Give  them  some  coins,  Kassim-Farraj. 
[Kassim-Farraj  gives  nose-cutters  coins, 

ISHAK 

We  thank  your  Lordship. 

SHAKALIK 

Rest  assured  that  we'll  have  an  easy  hand  on  your 

Lordship's  face. 

[The  nose-cutters  go  out. 

MOGU 

Now  that  they  have  gone,  I  feel  once  more  my  desire 
for  Gazeleh.  To  possess  her  and  to  be  Vizier  —  one 
might  yield  a  nose  for  such  gains.  A  nose  is  easily 
lost,  after  all.  The  bough  of  a  tree  swinging  against 
the  face  might  bereave  one  of  a  nose.  Play  your  flute 
again,  Kassim-Farraj,  and  let  me  think  of  Gazeleh. 
[He  seats  himself  on  the  dais  and  Kassim-Farraj  plays 
badly  one  of  the  tunes  he  played  before. 

MOGU 

0  Kassim-Farraj,  your  playing  only  recalls  noseless 
face  after  noseless  face.  What  a  nose  Gazaleh  has! 
And  yet  I  cannot  think  of  it! 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

1  will  make  ready  my  Lord's  raiment  for  the  banquet 
to-night! 

MOGU 

Alas,  my  bosom  is  contracted  because  of  my  desire  for 
Gazeleh  and  my  desire  to  retain  my  nose. 

KASSIM-FARRAJ 

Do  not  forget,  my  Lord,  that  the  King  has  bestowed 
an  extraordinary  favor  upon  you. 

MOGU 

Has  he  commanded  that  I  retain  my  nose? 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  87 

KASSIM-FARBAJ 

Not  that.  But  remember  that  he  has  permitted  Mogu 
to  annoxmce  at  the  banquet  to-night,  "All  that  has 
happened  has  proceeded  from  me.'* 

MOGU 

"All  that  has  happened  has  proceeded  from  me." 
Until  to-morrow  all  that  has  happened  has  proceeded 
from  me. 

KA.SSIM-FARRAJ 

This  way,  my  Lord.     I  will  array  you  for  the  banquet. 

MOGU 

I  follow  you,  Kassim-Farraj. 
^Mogu  and  Kassim-Farraj  go  out  R. 
Attendants  now  come  forward  and  take  away  the  hangings 
that  had  made  the  space  small  for  the  Vizier's  divan.  A 
greater  extent  of  hall  is  now  seen.  The  place  is  being 
prepared  for  the  banquet.  There  are  hangings  at  bach 
across  ancient  pillars.  Between  the  two  middle  pillars 
bach  there  are  no  hangings,  and  this  leaves  an  entrance  for 
attendants.  Across  this  entrance,  projecting,  and  above 
where  the  attendants  pass,  is  a  box  with  lattices  for  ladies 
who  may  watch  what  is  happening  at  the  banquet.  The 
entrance  for  guests  is  Bach  Left.  Right  is  a  decorated 
wall.  "Left  are  pillars  with  hangings.  Right  and  Left 
are  tables  and  couches  mahing  a  shallow  crescent  on  each 
side.  The  royal  seat,  vnth  a  canopy,  is  at  end  of  line. 
At  entrance  Bach,  Shedad,  a  wand  in  his  hand,  is  giving 
directions  to  attendants  behind.  These  are  sometimes 
seen  passing  across.  Helenus,  the  Roman  Minister,  and 
Menander  his  secretary  are  down  Left  and  standing. 
Helenus  is  dressed  for  the  banquet.  Menander's  dress 
mahes  a  contrast. 
A  lady  appears  at  entrance  back  Left.    She  unveils  for  a 


88  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

moment  and  shows  the  face  of  Gazeleh.  She  goes  through 
Back  and  into  the  ladies'  box.  Opening  the  lattices,  she 
shows  herself y  and  then  closes  them. 

HELENUS 

This,  Menander,  is  part  of  the  mighty  Hall  of  Nim- 
rod's  Pillars.  I  shall  make  reference  to  it  in  my  lecture 
when  we  are  again  in  Rome.  Observe  this  pillar. 
Herodotus  says  — 

MENANDER 

Artavades.  .  .  . 
HELENUS  (in  a  low  tone) 
Artavades  knows  he  is  to  introduce  himself  into  the 
camp. 

MENANDER 

He  has  already  done  so.  He  has  been  taken  prisoner, 
and  is  now  in  charge  of  Chosroes'  guards. 

HELENUS 

Infernal  Gods!  The  man  is  too  forward.  We  may  not 
be  able  to  save  his  life  now.  Then  we  should  have  no 
client  king  in  the  Far  East.  Do  you  know  who  has 
power  in  this  camp,  Menander? 

MENANDER  ^ 

I  do.    It  is  Sparimixes,  the  Attendant  of  the  Birds. 

HELENUS 

Yea.  That  is  the  man.  Go  to  Sparimixes.  You  must 
arrange  for  the  escape  of  Artavades. 
[^A  young  man  and  an  elderly  woman  come  into  the  hall. 
The  young  man  seats  himself  in  the  middle  of  line  R. 
The  lady  seats  herself  back  L.  and  remains  veiled.  The 
young  man  is  in  festal  dress  and  is  crowned  with  roses. 

MENANDER 

I  go.  Chosroes'  son.  Prince  Pharanices,  has  come  into 
the  hall. 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  89 

HELENUS 

Yes.  And  Chosroes'  mother,  the  Queen  Atossa.  Let 
us  speak  to  Pharanices  as  you  go  out.  Greeting,  Prince 
Pharanices. 

PHARANICES 

Greeting,  Lord  Helenus  and  Lord  Menander!  I  hope 
you  will  like  our  banquet  to-night. 

HELENUS 

In  truth,  Prince  Pharanices,  I  shall  have  to  keep  sober. 

PHARANICES 

Why? 

HELENUS 

So  that  I  may  be  able  to  watch  your  ministers. 

MENANDER 

But  you  need  not  fear  his  vigilance.  Prince  Pharanices. 
Your  Persian  banquets  rout  a  legion  of  the  sober. 

PHARANICES 

I  hope  you  will  be  merry.  Lord  Menander.     I  will 
throw  dice  with  you. 
[Pharanices  produces  a  dice  box, 

HELENUS 

What  do  you  throw  for? 

PHARANICES 

To  determine  whether  we  become  intoxicated  with 
wine  or  with  hashish. 

MENANDER 

I  have  not  been  invited  to  the  banquet  at  all.    Fare- 
well, Prince  Pharanices. 
{Menander  goes  out, 

PHARANICES 

And  I  had  thrown  the  highest  numbers ! 

[A  dancing  girl,  Moon-of-Love,  comes  through  attendants^ 

entrance  and  begins  to  dance.    While  she  is  dancing,  cer- 


90  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  m 

tain  guests  enter  and  take  their  places.  Shedad  hurries 
up  hall  to  dancing  girl. 

SHEDAD 

Slave  Girl,  desist!  {Moon-of-Love  continues  to  dance. 
Striking  the  floor  with  his  staff  and  speaking  authorita- 
tively) Desist  from  dancing!  Do  not  weary  yourself 
before  the  entertainment  of  the  nobles  begins!  {Moon- 
of-Love  continues  to  dance)  Stop.  How  am  I  to  regu- 
late the  banquet  and  bring  everything  to  its  fitness  if 
you  distract  your  mind  and  weary  your  body  before 
the  banquet  begins? 

\_Moon-of-L(yoe  ceases  to  dance  and  stands  beside  a  pillar 
L.  Many  guests  have  now  come  in.  Attendants  bring 
wine  jars  and  fill  their  cups. 

HELENUS 

Is  it  permitted  to  drink  wine  before  the  King  appears 
at  the  banquet? 

PHARANICES 

It  is  permitted.  Chosroes  would  like  to  have  us  merry 
before  he  appears. 

£A  little  maiden  enters  with  a  basket  of  flowers.  She 
leaves  flowers  at  each  table  as  she  comes  down.  Then 
she  begins  to  arrange  flowers  on  the  ground  before  the 
royal  seat. 

HELENUS 

What  is  that  little  maiden  about  to  do? 

PHARANICES 

It  is  a  custom  of  the  banquet.    She  leaves  a  message. 

HELENUS 

A  message? 

PHARANICES 

Yea.  This  puzzles  the  foreign  envoys.  In  our  language 
certain  flowers  stand  for  certain  words. 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  91 

HELENUS 

Yea. 

PHARANICES 

And  Chosroes  and  his  poet  Nuseyr  always  have  this 
little  maiden  make  some  message  with  the  flowers 
before  the  banquet  begins.  Look!  The  inscription  is 
complete. 

HELENUS 

And  what  does  it  say? 

PHAKANICES 

Something  wearying,  you  may  guess  —  with  all  respect 

to  Chosroes  and  his  poet. 

l_The  guests  have  gathered  round  the  flowers.     They  look 

startled. 

HELENUS 

What  does  this  message  say? 

PHAKANICES 

The  King  does  not  want  to  be  with  us  at  the  banquet 
to-night,  and  so  he  sends  this  excuse. 

HELENUS 

And  what  is  the  excuse? 

PHARANICES 

That  he  is  dead. 

HELENUS 

That  he  is  dead!  Is  it  possible  the  flowers  make  such  a 
message? 

PHARANICES 

They  make  it,  certainly.  Look  how/ they  go  —  "The 
King  is  dead!"    Little  girl,  who  told  you  to  write  this? 

FLOWER  MAID 

Nuseyr,  sir. 

PHARANICES 

Nuseyr,  the  poet? 


92  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  iii 

FLOWER  MAID 

Yes.  When  I  went  to  ask  what  message  I  should  make 
at  the  banquet  to-night,  he  instructed  me  to  make  that 
message  with  the  flowers. 

PHARANICES 

This  is  in  bad  taste.    Is  it  not,  0  Guests? 

A   GUEST 

If  the  King  has  not  approved  of  the  jest  —  yea. 

PHARANICES 

And  where  is  Nuseyr.^ 

FLOWER  MAID 

He  is  gone  by  this.    He  had  on  his  traveling  cloak. 

A  GUEST 

You  may  be  beaten  for  writing  this,  little  girl.  The 
King  may  remember  that  it  is  not  lucky  to  have  it  said 
that  he  is  dead. 

THE   FLOWER   MAID 

But  the  King  is  dead.  I  have  seen  him  lying  between 
the  fallen  pillars  in  the  Hall  of  Histories.  Nusyer  took 
me  to  see  him. 

\^Queen  Atossa  has  come  down  among  the  guests,  who 
stand  around  the  flower  inscription, 

ATOSSA 

Chosroes  would  never  speak  of  death.  He  dreaded 
the  word.  And  in  these  days  more  than  before  he 
dreaded  the  word,  for  there  seemed  to  be  some  pre- 
monition in  his  mind. 

A   GUEST 

If  it  should  be  true  — 

ANOTHER   GUEST 

Hush.    The  King  lives  for  ever. 

THE  ONE  WHO  HAD  SPOKEN 

It  is  true.    The  King  lives  for  ever. 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  93 

ATOSSA 

Thy  message  is  true.  O  thou  unlucky  one,  go! 
^She  beats  her  with  Shedad*s  staff.  The  Flower  Maid  goes 
back.  The  lattices  of  the  box  are  opened,  and  Gazeleh 
looks  out.  King  Artavades  breaks  into  the  hall.  His 
dress  is  torn,  and  there  are  bits  of  chains  around  his  hands. 
He  holds  a  sword.  Sparimixes,  a  strong  and  cunning- 
looking  man,  follows  him.    He  is  richly  dressed. 

SPARIMIXES 

Princes  and  Notables  of  the  Persians,  I  have  to  announce 
to  you  that  Chosroes  has  been  slain. 
^There  is  great  confusion.    The  guests  stand  up  and  pour 
wine  on  the  floor  as  libations.    Mogu  enters.    He  is  un- 
conscious of  what  has  moved  the  guests. 
MOGU  {as  he  advances  along  the  tables) 

Everything  that  has  happened  has  come  from  me! 
Everything  that  has  happened  has  come  from  me! 
IThe  guests  hold  out  their  hands  in  horror  as  he  passes. 
He  reaches  the  royal  seat  and  stands  before  it.  The  guests, 
with  piov^  and  affrighted  gestures,  leave  the  hall.  Helenus, 
Pharanices,  Atossa,  Artavades,  Sparimixes,  and  Moon-of- 
Love  remain  in  different  parts  of  the  hall. 

MOGU 

Remain  near  me,  Moon-of-Love.  Kassim-Farraj,  my 
historiographer,  is  not  permitted  to  attend  the  banquet, 
and,  as  my  mind  is  filled  with  affairs  of  state,  I  need  to 
be  reminded  of  what  is  customary  at  the  banquet  of 
the  King.    You  shall  inform  me. 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

I  hear  and  I  obey. 

MOGU 

It  is  long  since  I  have  been  at  a  banquet  at  which  there 
were  so  many  kings  and  princes.    But  why  do  they  not 


94  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [actiii 

sit  down  to  the  wine?  Why  have  others  gone?  Why 
do  those  who  remain  stand  watching  me? 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

Oh  my  Lord,  they  are  aflfrighted. 

MOGU 

Why  are  they  affrighted? 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

On  account  of  the  slaying  of  the  King. 

MOGU 

The  slaying  of  the  King! 

Ule  lets  fall  the  cup  he  had  raised. 

MOON-OF-LOVB 

Your  declaration  has  been  terrible  to  them. 

MOGU 

My  declaration! 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

That  you  had  slain  the  King. 

MOGU 

I?    Who  has  declared  such  a  thing? 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

Did  you  not  say  "Everything  that  has  happened  has 
come  from  me?"  And  the  King  has  been  slain!  That 
is  why  they  are  affrighted  of  you. 

MOGU 

These  words  were  given  me  to  say.    It  is  certain  they 
were  given  to  me  by  my  evil  genius.    Now  indeed  he 
has  triumphed  over  me. 
[Sparimixes  comes  to  Mogu. 

SPARIMIXES 

What  a  demon  thou  hast,  Mogu ! 

MOGU 

Mine  is  the  most  terrible  demon  that  ever  possessed  a 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  95 

man!  There  has  been  none  like  to  him!  I  speak  only 
the  truth! 

SPARIMIXES 

A  terrible  and  dangerous  demon!    We  pay  homage  to 
him,  Lord. 
[_S'parimixes  goes  bach. 

MOGU 

He  does  not  speak  of  my  destruction. 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

He  would  be  friendly  to  thee  on  account  of  thy  terrible 
demon. 

MOGU 

He  is  terrible  only  to  myself.  I  declare  that  I  reek 
with  the  sweat  of  fear.  And  there  is  King  Artavades! 
Everything  that  is  destructive  to  me  has  been  assem- 
bled! I  am  as  a  hare  that  doubles  from  an  eagle  and 
then  sees  the  beak  of  a  hawk.  {He  sinks  on  the  ground 
before  the  royal  chair)  Woman's  wit  helps  in  a  desperate 
situation!    Think,  what  should  I  do,  Moon-of -Lo ve ! 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

Persuade  your  demon  to  change  you  into  a  mouse  and 
then  run  out  of  the  hall. 

MOGU 

It  cannot  be  done,  Moon-of-Love. 
[^Moon-of -Love  goes  from  him  and  stands  at  a  pillar  L, 
Artavades,    Sparimixes,    Pharanices,    and   Atossa    have 
gathered  together.    Helenus  stands  a  little  apart  from  them. 

ATOSSA 

Then,  since  Chosroes  is  dead  ... 

ARTAVADES 

What  would  you  say,  Queen? 

ATOSSA 

I,  myself,  am  of  the  Royal  Race. 


96 MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

PHARANICES 

I  am  the  King's  son.    I  am  Chosroes  again. 

ATOSSA 

Boy,  go  back  to  the  stables. 

PHARANICES 

I  am  Chosroes,  I  say.  The  treasure  belongs  to  me, 
and  so  does  the  army  and  the  diadem.  Go  back  to  your 
women,  Queen.    Why  do  you  stand  amongst  men.? 

ATOSSA 

Chosroes  would  not  entrust  you  with  the  meanest  prov- 
ince in  the  Empire. 

PHARANICES 

Do  not  speak  so  insolently.  Think  of  the  prison  that 
is  before  you. 

ATOSSA 

I  shall  have  myself  proclaimed  regent. 

PHARANICES 

Regent,  do  you  say.'^ 

ATOSSA 

Yes.  Regent  until  my  son,  —  the  true  offspring  of 
Chosroes,  —  comes  to  be  king  over  the  Persians. 

PHARANICES 

Poisoner! 

ATOSSA 

Dastard! 

PHARANICES 

It  does  not  matter  what  poison  you  spew  out.  I  am  the 
King's  son  and  heir  to  the  Empire.  Sparimixes,  take 
in  hand  the  business  of  having  my  elevation  proclaimed. 

SPARIMIXES 

Prince  Pharanices,  I  would  advise  you  to  accept  the 
,    government  that  may  be  offered  to  you,  —  the  govern- 
ment of  an  outlying  province. 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  97 

PHARANICES 

Who  will  oflFer  it  to  me? 

SPARIMIXES 

King  Artavades. 

PHARANICES 

King  Artavades ! 

SPARIMIXES 

Yes.  King  Artavades  is  properly  the  successor  of 
Chosroes,  being  related  to  the  Royal  Race  by  his  blood. 
[Artavades  comes  forward.  Pharanites  takes  up  wine 
cup  and  throws  it  at  him.  Then  he  draws  his  sword. 
Sparimixes  disarms  Pharanices. 

ATOSSA 

0  hateful  Sparimixes,  have  you  brought  this  man  to 
rule  over  us.^* 

SPARIMIXES 

Is  he  not  more  acceptable  to  you  than  Pharanices? 

ATOSSA 

1  shall  have  a  Council  summoned  who  will  name  the 
ruler  or  regent. 

[She  turns  to  go. 

PHARANICES 

You  shall  not.    It  is  my  right  to  preside  at  the  Council. 

ATOSSA 

Fool!  To  quarrel  with  me  while  Sparimixes  and  the 
Roman  are  preparing  to  make  Artavades  king  over  us 
all. 

PHARANICES 

I  and  not  any  woman  shall  preside  over  the  Council  of 
State. 

ATOSSA 

Preside  over  a  council  of  stable  boys,  but  do  not  think 
of  presiding  over  the  Council  of  State. 


98  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  iii 

PHARANICES 

Be  thankful  if  you  are  only  shut  up  in  a  prison. 
[Pharanices  and  Atossa  go  off  quarreling. 

AETAVADPS 

The  death  of  Chosroes  is  more  fortunate  for  us  than 
anything  we  could  have  planned.  But  I  do  not  know 
what  to  do  with  the  demon-possessed  man  who  did 
the  deed.  Menander,  Lord  Helenus,  has  gone  to  the 
camp  of  your  general.  Roman  soldiers  are  to  be  in- 
troduced into  this  camp  immediately. 

HELENUS 

You  confirm  all  our  arrangements.'^ 

ARTAVADES 

Yes.  There  is  the  donative  to  your  army  —  half  of 
what  remains  in  our  treasury. 

HELENUS 

And  the  frontier  line? 

ARTAVADES 

It  shall  be  restored.  But  a  certain  city  within  the  old 
frontier  line  must  remain  with  me. 

HELENUS 

I  shall  discuss  that  with  our  general.  Behold,  there 
are  some  of  his  guard.  Come,  Sparimixes,  to  our  general. 
\Kofman  soldiers  have  shown  themselves  at  back.  Helenus 
and  Sparimixes  go  towards  attendants'  entrance. 

HELENUS 

You  will  join  us.  King  Artavades. 

ARTAVADES 

You  do  not  address  me  as  Chosroes  was  addressed? 

HELENUS 

As  Great  King?    No.     The  Roman  people  have  de- 
cided to  let  that  title  become  obsolete. 
[[There  is  an  unfriendly  pause.    Sparimixes  has  gone  to 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  99 

hack.  Then  Helenus  goes  too.  Both  go  into  the  place 
behind  the  middle  pillars.    Artavades  stamps  with  rage. 

ARTAVADES 

Oh,  that  I  were  able  to  show  myseM  as  dangerous  to 
this  Helenus!     Oh,  that  I  were  desperate  enough  to 
combat  the  whole  of  this  Roman  arrogance! 
[^Mogu  comes  to  him. 

MOGU 

Master! 

ARTAVADES 

The  man  who  slew  Chosroes  and  declared  it!  This  is 
a  dangerous  man  verily!  Would  that  he  would  make 
himself  terrible  to  these  Romans ! 

MOGU 

Master! 

ARTAVADES 

I  greet  you,  Mogu. 

MOGU 

I  crave  protection,  Master. 

ARTAVADES 

And  I  give  you  protection.  My  protection  is  all-suffic- 
ing now.  I  am  in  the  place  of  Chosroes.  I  am  now 
King  over  the  Persians. 

MOGU 

Master,  on  account  of  your  good  fortune,  grant  me  a 
boon! 

ARTAVADES 

It  shall  be  granted  to  you,  Mogu.  You  have  been 
Vizier  under  Chosroes  —  you  shall  be  Vizier  under 
me. 

MOGU 

With  your  protection,  Master? 


100  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

ARTAVADES 

With  my  protection.    I  give  you  this  sword  as  a  sign 

of  your  office. 

[He  gives  Mogu  his  sword. 

MOGU 

Would  that  I  could  strike  the  necks  of  your  enemies 
with  one  sweep! 

ARTAVADES 

Be  my  faithful  and  dangerous  tool.  I  do  not  like  these 
Romans. 

MOGU 

I  do  not  like  them,  my  King.  I  had  a  master  —  I 
mean  I  had  a  slave  —  who  was  robbed  by  the  Romans. 
[_Artavades  makes  a  warning  gesture  and  goes  into  part 
of  hall  hack. 

MOGU 

Because  they  believe  that  Mogu  killed  the  King,  they 
think  he  is  a  great  and  terrible  man.  And  verily  I 
should  be  afraid  of  such  a  one  if  I  were  a  king.  Doubt- 
less they  know  too  that  I  am  under  the  protection  of 
a  powerful  Genius.  I  did  not  know  he  was  so  powerful. 
How  well  he  bears  me  onward!  Chosroes  is  dead,  and 
I  am  Vizier,  and  I  need  not  lose  my  nose  on  account  of 
marrying  Gazeleh!  O  my  Gazeleh!  O  One  desired 
by  the  fortunate  Mogu!    Moon-of-Love,  come  here! 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

What  would  my  Lord  have? 

MOGU 

Seek  the  lady  Gazeleh.  Invite  her  to  come  to  the 
Vizier  here. 

MOON-OF-LOVE 

I  need  not  go  far  to  seek  her.  She  is  behind  the  lattices 
there. 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER'  lOV' 

MOGU 

Invite  her  to  come  to  me  here.  {Moon-qf-Love  goes  to 
the  back)  Since  Chosroes  is  dead,  there  is  no  reason 
why  I  should  lose  my  nose  on  account  of  marrying 
her.  (He  pours  wine  into  a  cup  and  drinks)  This 
is  the  King's  chair  doubtless.  I  shall  place  myself 
in  it  and  speak  to  Gazeleh  from  the  King's  chair. 
{Gazeleh  comes  to  him  from  the  hack)  Doubtless  you 
observed,  Gazeleh,  that  King  Artavades  has  invested 
me  again  with  the  Viziership. 

GAZELEH 

I  observed  it,  O  my  terrible  Lord. 

MOGU 

All  now  think  that  Mogu  killed  the  King,  and  all  are 
fearful  of  him.    Is  it  not  so,  Gazeleh? 

GAZELEH 

My  Lord  knows  it  is  so. 

MOGU 

Well,  as  Chosroes  was  once  your  lord,  I  will  not 
appear  before  you  as  one  who  slew  him.  I  did  not 
commit  the  deed.  I  know  nothing  about  the  slaying 
of  Chosroes. 

GAZELEH 

Is  it  so? 

MOGU 

By  my  protecting  Genius,  it  is  so!  I  will  speak  truth 
to  thee,  O  my  Delight.  I  do  not  even  know  who  slew 
the  King.  But  to  Artavades  and  the  others  I  must 
appear  as  a  terrible  being  who  has  it  in  him  to  slay 
a  king.  If  they  did  not  think  I  was  such  a  one,  my 
Viziership  would  have  died  with  Chosroes. 

GAZELEH 

And  thou  hast  not  slain  the  King? 


102  MOGF,  THE  WANDERER         [act  iii 

MOGU 

No,  Gazeleh. 

GAZELEH 

I  shall  tell  no  one  what  thou  hast  told  me. 

MOGU 

O  Gazeleh,  O  my  Life.  After  the  banquet  to-morrow  — 
The  King  has  been  slain,  and  that  is  a  good  thing, 
for  now  I  need  not  lose  my  nose  by  taking  you! 

GAZELEH 

What.^  Would  you  take  me  and  keep  your  nose? 
Would  you  leave  no  mark  to  show  that  I,  Gazeleh,  was 
the  favorite  of  the  King.^ 

MOGU 

O  Gazeleh,  would  you  have  your  husband  submit  to 
the  loss  of  his  nose? 

GAZELEH 

Is  not  a  vile  nose  a  small  price  to  pay  for  a  woman 
who  has  been  cherished  by  the  Great  King? 

MOGU 

That  King  is  dead.  It  is  not  now  necessary  to  have 
my  nose  forfeited. 

GAZELEH 

And  because  the  King  has  been  slain,  am  I  to  be  cheated 
out  of  my  dignities?  Not  so.  It  shall  be  as  if  Chosroes 
were  still  alive.  The  noseless  condition  of  my  husband's 
countenance  shall  let  all  know  that  I  have  been  the 
beloved  of  the  King. 

MOGU 

Listen,  O  wilful  Woman.  I  am  Vizier,  and  I  shall  take 
you  without  abating  one  jot  of  my  countenance. 

GAZELEH 

.   Not  so.    My  father  Sparimixes  .  .  . 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  103 

MOGU 

Ha!    Sparimixes  is  your  father! 

GAZELEH 

Yea.    And  he  is  the  one  who  has  made  Artavades  King. 

MOGU 

Greatly  do  I  desire  to  have  you  for  my  wife,  O  Gazeleh. 
And  yet  .  .  . 

GAZELEH 

What  would  you  say? 

MOGU 

Almost  I  would  choose  a  woman  of  less  beauty,  dignity, 
and  worth  and  keep  my  own  nose. 

GAZELEH 

O  Slave,  to  think  such  a  thought!  What!  You  would 
leave  me  unwedded  on  account  of  a  base  consideration 
for  a  vile  nose! 

MOGU 

Almost  I  would  do  so,  Gazeleh. 

GAZELEH 

Almost  you  would  do  so!  Then  I  declare  that  you 
shall  not  be  permitted  to  do  so. 

MOGU 

Not  permitted!    What  words  do  you  say,  Gazeleh? 

GAZELEH 

Listen  to  me.  Vizier.  Rather  than  you  should  commit 
such  baseness,  I  shall  let  Artavades  know  and  Spari- 
mixes know  that  it  was  not  you  who  slew  Chosroes. 
Then  shall  the  terror  go  from  your  name.  The  sword 
that  Artavades  put  into  your  hand  shall  be  wrung  from 
it.  You  will  lose  your  Viziership.  Yea.  A  worse  thing 
shall  befall  you. 

MOGU 

Of  what  worse  thing  can  you  think,  0  Gazeleh? 


104  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

GAZELEH 

It  will  be  remembered  against  you  that  you  laid  hands 
on  King  Artavades  and  had  chains  put  upon  him. 
There  will  be  no  terror  round  you  to  protect  you  from 
the  King's  detestation. 

MOGU 

And  what  would  they  do  to  me? 

GAZELEH 

I  will  tell  you  for  your  guidance.  They  will  put  you 
into  the  Tower  of  Famine  and  leave  you  to  die  of  hunger 
and  thirst. 

MOGU 

Now  I  see  that  you  are  a  tigress.  And  I  thought  you 
were  a  soft  and  gracious  woman,  Gazeleh.  Oh,  you 
have  filled  me  with  such  fears  that  almost  I  would  flee 
back  to  the  desert.  Who  are  these  who  come  here  now? 
^A  nondescript  crowd  has  come  in  from  the  back  of  the 
hall. 

GAZELEH 

These  —  these  are  only  the  grooms  and  servants  who 
have  come  in  to  pick  what  the  Lords  have  left  on  the 
tables. 

MOGU 

Oh,  woe  to  me!   I  see  Ishak  and  Shakalik  amongst  them. 

GAZELEH 

Yes.  The  nose-cutters  are  here  also.  They  are  with 
the  grooms. 

MOGU 

O  Gazeleh,  wilt  thou  not  be  gracious  and  say,  "Mogu 
the  Vizier  is  my  Lord.  He  shall  be  dear  to  me  with 
as  without  his  nose." 

GAZELEH 

It  would  become  a  slave  girl  or  a  groom's  wife  to  say 


SCENE  i]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER 105 

that.  Rather  will  I  say  to  Ishak  and  Shakalik,  "It 
were  well  not  to  wait  too  long  to  deliver  the  husband 
of  Gazeleh  of  his  nose.  Let  it  be  done  before  the  night 
is  past." 

MOGU 

You  must  not  speak  to  them  now,  O  loving  heart. 

GAZELEH 

I  shall  speak  to  them.    {She  goes  to  Ishak  and  Shakalik. 
They  nod  as  she  speaks  to  them)    Be  not  sad  about  what 
they  will  do,  my  Lord.    Remember  the  banquet  and 
.    the  bridal  afterwards.    Farewell,  Mogu. 
[_She  goes  out. 

MOGU 

Farewell,  unkindly  Woman.  These  nobles  are  all  hard 
of  heart.  Oh,  that  I  might  be  with  her  and  keep  my 
nose!  Oh,  that  I  might  remain  Vizier  of  the  Persians 
and  keep  my  nose!  Oh,  that  Chosroes  had  remained 
King  over  the  Persians!  Now  all  things  are  different. 
(He  watches  the  grooms  and  servants  devour  the  remains 
of  the  feast)  How  these  men,  the  grooms  and  servants, 
eat!  Mogu  would  have  eaten  like  them  yesterday. 
Yea,  and  his  whole  being  would  have  rejoiced  over  the 
abundance  and  the  deliciousnes  of  the  food.  How  much 
better  it  is  to  devour  scraps  with  satisfaction  than  to 
eat  the  breast  of  the  partridge  and  be  afflicted  by  what 
is  due  to  the  dignity  of  your  wife.  Verily,  it  might  be 
better  for  me  to  be  a  groom  of  the  stable! 
{Ishak  and  Shakalik  come  to  him,  one  wiping  his  mouth 
with  his  hand  and  the  other  licking  his  lips. 

SHAKALIK  {familiarly) 

The  tools  are  with  us.  Vizier,  and  we  can  do  the  job 
to-night,  as  the  lady  said. 


106  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

MOGU 

Will  you  not  drink  first,  Shakalik? 

\^He  seats  himself  despondently  on  the  ground. 

ISHAK 

We  will  set  a  wine  jar  here  and  drink  beside  you.  {They 
seat  themselves  either  side  of  Mogu,  a  wine  jar  beside  them. 
The  grooms  and  servants  go  off)  When  the  Vizier  feels 
like  it,  we'll  do  his  job  for  him. 

MOGU 

Drink    wine,    Ishak.    You    have    permission.    Drink 

wine,  Shakalik. 

l^They  drink.     Then  they  yawn. 

ISHAK 

These  banquets  of  the  nobles  keep  up  late  the  poor 
men  who  have  to  eat  after  them. 

SHAKALIK 

And  we  have  to  be  on  foot  early  to  get  bread  from  the 
kitchens.  Do  not  blame  us  if  we  are  sleepy,  Lord 
Vizier. 

MOGU 

I  do  not  blame  you.    I  could  sleep  here  too. 

ISHAK 

Then  I'll  take  a  rabbit's  rest. 

SHAKALIK 

I'll  take  a  hare's  sleep,  brother. 
[^Both  lie  down  on  ground. 

MOGU 

Would  that  you  dream  that  you  had  taken  off  my  nose 
and  that  others  would  dream  they  did  not  see  it  on  me. 
What  contentment  can  the  greatest  have  if  they  can- 
not possess  their  own  nose?  My  greatness  seems 
secure,  but  I  shall  not  abide  to  profit  by  it.  Rather 
I  shall  go  back  to  the  desert  and  speak  to  men  about 


SCENE  i]        MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  107 

the  Bank  of  the  Hidden  Treasures.  Would  that  I 
had  again  Simsim,  my  mouse !  And  would  that  I  had 
my  own  garments!  I  shall  have  to  take  a  garment 
from  Ishak  and  a  garment  from  Shakalik! 
[He  begins  to  draw  a  garment  off  one  of  the  sleeping 
nose-cutters.      The  scene  closes, 

CURTAIN 


SCENE  II 

At  the  well.    It  is  night,  and  there  is  brilliant  moonlight, 
A  man  in  a  long,  ragged  cloak,  holding  a  staff,  is  seated 
at  side  of  well. 
Mogu,  his  garment  ragged,  enters  from  Left. 

THE  MAN  AT  WELL  (rising) 
Ho,  Mogu! 

MOGU 

I  have  left  the  nose-cutters  behind  me.    Who  are  you? 

THE  MAN 

I  am  Zamm,  the  One-Eyed  Beggar.  I  was  expecting 
you. 

MOGU 

That  is  strange,  because  I  was  not  expecting  myself. 
I  left  the  garments  of  the  Vizier  on  the  ground,  and 
while  the  nose-cutters  slept,  I  took  part  of  their  clothes, 
put  them  on  me  and  came  here. 

ZAMM 

I  was  expecting  you.  I  have  brought  a  staff  to  beat 
and  chastise  you,  and  drive  you  from  the  camp. 

MOGU 

Have  I  left  those  who  would  cut  off  the  nose  of  a  Vizier 
to  be  beaten  by  the  beggars  of  the  camp.? 

ZAMM 

There  is  but  one  beggar  in  the  camp,  and  he  is  Zamm, 
myseff.  And  even  for  one  beggar  the  off-falls  are  not 
plentiful.  So  when  I  heard  that  you  were  here,  I  took 
my  staff  in  my  hands  and  set  out  to  beat  and  chastise 
you  and  drive  you  from  my  domain. 


SCENE  ii]      MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  109 

MOGU 

You  have  not  heard  that  I  have  been  made  Vizier  over 
the  Persians? 

ZAMM 

Is  it  likely  that  I  would  heed  such  a  story  as  that? 

MOGU 

Truly,  Zamm,  if  you  see  me  here,  it  is  because  I  am 
running  away  from  my  Viziership. 

ZAMM 

I  took  the  weightiest  of  two  staffs  and  came  to  beat  you 
from  the  camp  of  the  Persians. 

MOGU 

You  did  not  hear  of  my  elevation?  This  is  indeed 
wonderful!  But  I  perceive  you  have  a  staff.  Would 
that  I  had  not  neglected  to  bring  a  staff  with  me! 

ZAMM 

You   are   without   a   staff?    O   foolish   Beggar!    Go, 
leave  the  camp  as  the  jackals  leave  it! 
[He  goes  to  Mogu,  brandishing  staff. 

MOGU 

Then  it  is  settled!  I  shall  lose  my  nose,  but  I  shall 
remain  Vizier  to  have  you  beaten! 

ZAMM 

You  Vizier!  The  mouse  sitting  on  the  top  stone  of  the 
well  laughs  at  your  saying! 

MOGU 

The  mouse  on  the  top  stone  of  the  well!  It  is  surely 
Simsim!  Simsim!  It  is  he!  Come  into  my  hand 
Simsim!  Let  me  take  you  to  my  heart!  (The  mouse 
c(ymes  into  his  hand)  You  shall  be  the  noseless  Vizier's 
mouse,  Simsim!  I  shall  put  diamonds  around  your 
neck,  my  pet! 
[Mogu  is  now  behind  the  well.    Zamm  is  at  left  side  in 


110  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

shadow.  Yunan  and  Duhan  come  in  from  L,  Zahal 
enters  from  R. 

DUBAN 

Is  it  thou,  Zahal? 

ZAHAL 

It  is  I,  O  Destroyers  of  the  King! 

MOGU 

The  Destroyers  of  the  King! 

YUNAN 

What  word  have  you  for  us,  Brother? 

ZAHAL 

I  have  told  Sparimixes  of  our  deed,  and  he  gives  us 
protection. 

MOGU 

They  have  told  Sparimixes!  Then  I  may  not  appear 
before  Sparimixes ! 

ZAHAL 

Sparimixes  bids  us  go  in  peace,  saying  it  is  manifest 
that  we  were  directed  to  the  event  He  bids  us  go  to  a 
place  on  the  river  where  a  boat  is  in  readiness. 

DUBAN 

Our  boat  floats  on  the  river  west  of  the  camp;  its  oars 
and  sails  are  in  readiness.  Soon,  soon,  shall  we  sail 
down  the  stream. 

YUNAN 

But  far  must  we  go  before  we  see  the  patch  cultivated 
by  our  people,  where  the  beans  grow  out  to  the  river. 

DUBAN 

But  when  we  land,  the  pigeons  will  fly  down  from  their 
towers  and  flutter  around  us ! 

YUNAN 

O  beloved  Birds!    Many  generations  do  you  number 


SCENE  ii]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  111 

since  we,  three  brothers  of  one  household,  were  taken 
into  captivity. 

ZAHAL 

Come,  Brothers! 

\lThe  three  Ethiopian  captives  go  off  R. 

MOGU 

0  you  Plunderers!    You  carry  away  my  fortune! 

ZAMM 

Stay  not  there.  Vagrant  with  the  Mouse!  I  would 
have  my  liver  torn  out  rather  than  suffer  you  to  remain. 
We  fight  for  the  undivided  off-falls!  (He  attacks  Mogu 
with  his  staff.  Mogu  lays  hands  on  the  staff;  with 
difficulty  Zamm  wrests  it  from  him)     You  have  eaten. 

1  did  not  know  that  you  had  eaten! 

[He  attacks  Mogu  again.  He  strikes  the  ground,  and  the 
staff  breaks.  Mogu  takes  up  one  end  of  it.  As  they  are 
preparing  for  a  new  attack,  Narjis  enters  from  R.  She 
is  in  a  mean  dress. 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father! 

MOGU 

Hast  thou  been  prudent,  my  Daughter?  Hast  thou 
brought  any  recompense  from  the  treasury  of  the 
King? 

NARJIS 

O  my  Father,  when  word  of  the  King's  death  came,  I 
was  plundered. 

MOGU 

And  the  slave  girl  whom  I  sent  to  you  a  while  ago, 
Moon-of-Love,  did  she  not  warn  you  to  bring  some 
precious  thing? 


in  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER         [act  hi 

NARJIS 

She  took  from  me  what  had  been  left  by  the  others,  — 
my  anklets  and  my  rich  dress. 

MOGU 

Wullahy!  I  have  raised  unto  me  those  who  are  barren 
in  enterprise! 

ZAMM 

Will  you  not  go,  Vagrants? 
MOGU  (flourishing  end  of  staff) 
I  go,  but  not  yet. 

NARJIS 

And  I  have  not  eaten,  my  Father. 

MOGU 

And  I  have  such  a  feeling  as  tells  me  I  shall  be  hungry 
in  a  while.  I  shall  strike  this  one-eyed  beggar  on  his 
blind  side,  drive  him  from  this  place  and  then  beg 
from  those  who  come  this  way. 

[He  strikes  Zamm  with  the  end  of  the  staff  and  knocks  him 
down,    Zamm  picks  himself  up  and  retreats. 

ZAMM 

I  shall  have  you  beaten,  Mogu.     I  go  to  bring  the  ass- 
tenders  against  you.     I  go  to  get  a  whole  staff. 
[He  goes  off. 

MOGU 

Stand  beside  me,  Narjis,  and  we  shall  beg  from  those 
who  pass.  None  will  refuse  a  coin  to  the  Vizier  reduced 
to  beggary. 

NARJIS 

I  will  mourn  a  while  for  the  King  who  is  dead. 
[Mogu  stands  with  hand  outstretched;    Narjis  stands  a 
little  aside  with  her  head  bent  and  in  a  mourning  attitude. 
As  they  stand  thuSy   there  pass  in  processional  order: 
Roman  soldiers,  Artavades  with  the  crown  on  his  head. 


SCENE  ii]      MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  113 

Pharanices,  drunks  with  his  arm  on  the  shoulder  of  one 
girl  and  beckoning  to  another  girl  who  follows;  Sparimixes 
in  a  rich,  stiff  dress  with  a  high  cap  upon  his  head;  Shedad 
and  Shedid  with  their  staffs  in  their  hands;  archers, 
banner-men  and  javelin  throwers.  Music  during  pro- 
cession, 

MOGU 

There  is  not  one  from  whom  I  could  beg  with  safety. 
^Hafiz  the  Hashish-eater  comes  on  after  the  procession. 

HAFIZ 

O  Mogu! 

MOGJ 

It  is  the  hashish-eater! 

HAFIZ 

What  does  your  hashish  say  to  you,  Mogu? 

MOGU 

To-day  I  was  the  Vizier  clad  in  cloth  of  gold,  and  I  sat 
judging  the  case  of  kings.  Now  I  go  back  to  the  desert, 
hungry  and  an  outcast. 

HAFIZ 

You  are  my  brother.     I  have  also  worn  the  diadem 
,nd  been  in  the  dust;   the  arms  of  the  beautiful  slave 
girls  have  been  around  me,  and  the  sun  has  been  on 
the  stripes  of  my  beating. 

MOGU 

Bestow  a  gift  upon  me,  Hafiz. 

HAFIZ 

O  Mogu,  remember  this. 

MOGU 

When,  O  Hafiz? 

HAFIZ 

In  a  thousand  years  you  shall  regain  your  power,  and 
then  I  shall  stand  before  you,  and  say  "O  my  Lord, 


114  MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  [act  hi 

grant  that  the  women  of  a  certain  region  be  given  to 
me  as  my  slave  women." 

MOGU 

The  women  of  the  region  of  Yemen  —  is  it  not  so,  O 
Hafiz? 

HAFIZ 

No.  That  was  a  thousand  years  ago.  The  women 
I  desire  Hve  by  the  slow  waters  of  the  Zacahapla  which 
is  in  the  region  of  the  Blue  Nile.  They  have  woven 
their  huts  of  reeds.  Without  curtains  they  recline 
within,  and  the  heart  of  the  passer-by  is  made  empty  by 
desire.  O  my  Lord,  grant  that  the  women  of  this 
region  be  my  slave  women. 

MOGU 

O  Narjis,  crave  a  coin  from  the  hashish-eater! 
[_Narjisy  who  has  been  standing  in  a  mourning  attitudCy 
turns  obediently.     She  holds  out  her  hand,  and  Hafiz  gives 
her  a  coin. 

NARJIS 

Whither  do  we  go,  my  Father? 

MOGU 

The  way  of  the  desert  is  before  us.     Hafiz,  we  go  now. 

HAFIZ 

The  hour  of  my  sobriety  approaches,  but  yet  I  would 
talk  to  you  about  these  women.  They  call  no  man 
husband,  and  their  lives  are  spent  making  love  more 
subtle  and  beauty  more  elaborate.  They  think  not  of 
the  afterworld  of  Heaven  or  Hell,  for  they  are  descended 
from  Lilith  and  from  Ridwan,  an  angel  of  Paradise. 

MOGU 

Give  me  the  coin  he  gave.  Now  we  go,  Narjis.  To- 
night we  sleep  in  the  dry  bed  of  the  river,  and  in  the 
morning  we  eat  in  the  town.     {They  walk  bach  towards 


SCENE  ii]       MOGU,  THE  WANDERER  115 

the  desert  and  they  are  seen  for  a  while  in  the  brilliant 
moonlight)     Farewell  Hafiz,  Son  of  Illusion! 

HAFIZ 

Farewell,  Mogu.    Farewell  for  a  thousand  years! 
\^He  goes  off  towards  R. 

CUETAIN 


fVl^i 


V 


OCT  1-J 
fEB   3  ^926 

JUN  S6l92i 


^^^ 


l5ri^- 


24 


1^  ^ 


VB  3f562 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY  | 


itf^ 


